Histology (A&P 1)

What is this?

Fluid Connective Tissue: Blood

Location: Inside blood vessels and heart

Function: Transports gases, nutrients, wastes, and hormones; protects against infection; helps clot blood; regulates body temperature

What is this?

Epidermis (Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium tissue)

Location: Outer layer of skin

Function: Protection from injury, germs, and water loss

What is this?

Nervous Tissue

Location: Brain, spinal cord, nerves

Function: Sends and receives nerve impulses (electrical signals)

What is this?

Simple Squamous Endothelium

Location: Lines the inside of blood vessels and the heart

Function: Allows rapid diffusion and filtration; provides a smooth surface for blood flow

What is this?

Smooth Muscle Tissue

Location: Walls of hollow organs (stomach, intestines, bladder, uterus) and blood vessels

Function: Moves substances through organs by involuntary contractions

What is this?

Stratified Squamous Epithelium (Nonkeratinized)

Location: Lining of the mouth, esophagus, vagina, and anal canal

Function: Protects against abrasion and friction while keeping the surface moist

What is this?

Simple Cuboidal

Location: In the walls of kidney tubules

Function: They are best suited for absorption, secretion, and excretion of small molecules

What is this?

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Location: Lining of the digestive tract (stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine)

Function: Absorption of nutrients, Secretion of mucus and digestive enzymes, Protection of underlying tissues

What is this?

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Location: Parts of the male urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)

• Some areas of the pharynx (throat)

• Some large salivary glands, especially:

  • Parotid gland (in front of the ears)

  • Submandibular gland (under the jaw)

  • Sublingual gland (under the tongue)

Function: Protects underlying tissues, Produces and releases secretions (such as saliva)

What is this?

Adipose Tissue

Location: Under skin; around kidneys, heart, eyes, and abdominal organs

Function: Energy storage, insulation, and protection/cushioning of organs

What is this?

Skeletal Muscle Tissue

Location: Attached to bones throughout the body, Attached to facial bones for facial expressions, Attached to the diaphragm (muscle used for breathing)

Function:

• Maintains posture

• Stabilizes joints

• Produces heat

• Produces voluntary body movements

What is this?

Dense Regular Collagenous Connective Tissue

Location: Tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses

Function:

• Resists tension in one direction

• Stabilizes joints

• Strong attachment

What is this?

Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium

Location: Nasal cavity, trachea, and larger airways

Function:

• Traps particles

• Moves mucus out of the respiratory tract with cilia

• Produces mucus

What is this?

Elastic Cartilage

Location: External ear, epiglottis, auditory tube

Function:

• Provides flexible support

• Allows bending and returning to the original shape

• Maintains the shape of a structure

What is this?

Fibrocartilage

Location: Intervertebral discs, menisci of the knee, pubic symphysis

Function:

• Absorbs shock

• Resists compression

• Provides strong support

• Prevents bones from grinding together

What is this?

Hyaline Cartilage (Both photos are

Location: Trachea, nose, and ends of bones

Function:

• Provides a smooth surface for joint movement

• Resists compression

• Maintains shape while remaining flexible

• Supports and reinforces structures

What is this?

Transitional Epithelium

Location: Urinary bladder, ureters, part of urethra

Function:

• Allows organs to stretch and expand as they fill with urine

• Protects underlying tissues from urine

What is this?

Spongy Bone (Osteoporosis)

Location:

• Found inside bones, especially:

  • Ends of long bones (such as the femur)

  • Vertebrae of the spine

  • Pelvis

  • Ribs

  • Sternum

Function:

• Reduces the weight of bones while maintaining strength

• Contains red bone marrow for blood cell production

• Helps absorb forces placed on bones

What Osteoporosis Does:

• The trabeculae (thin bony struts) become thinner and fewer

• Large empty spaces develop

• Bone becomes weak and fractures more easily

What is this?

Compact Bone (Osseous Tissue)

Location:

• Outer layer of all bones

• Shaft of long bones (such as the femur, humerus, and tibia)

Function:

• Provides support and protection

• Gives bones strength

• Stores minerals (especially calcium and phosphorus)

• Provides attachment sites for muscles

What is this?

Areolar Connective Tissue (Loose Connective Tissue)

Location:

• Under epithelial tissues (under the skin and lining organs)

• Around blood vessels and nerves

• Between organs

Function:

• Wraps and cushions organs

• Holds tissues together

• Allows movement of nutrients and fluids between tissues

• Provides support and protection

What is this?

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Location:

• Sweat glands

• Mammary glands (milk-producing glands of the breast)

• Salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands)

Function:

• Protection

• Secretion (producing and releasing substances)

What is this?

Elastic Connective Tissue (Dense Elastic Connective Tissue)

Location:

• Walls of large arteries (especially the aorta)

• Certain ligaments of the vertebral column (spine)

• Walls of some respiratory passages

Function:

• Allows tissues to stretch and recoil (return to original shape)

• Maintains pulsatile blood flow in arteries

• Provides flexibility

What is this?

Reticular Connective Tissue

Location:

• Lymph nodes

• Spleen

• Bone marrow

Function:

• Forms a supportive framework (stroma) for immune cells and blood cells

• Supports white blood cells, macrophages, and developing blood cells

What is this?

Cardiac Muscle Tissue

Location: Wall of the heart (myocardium)

Function:

• Contracts to pump blood throughout the body

• Maintains circulation

What is this?

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Location: In the walls of follicles within the thyroid gland

Function: Produces, stores, and releases thyroid hormones