Histology and Tissue Types Practice Flashcards

Detailed vocabulary flashcards identifying tissue types, their locations, functions, and key structural features as described in the lecture notes.

Simple squamous epithelium

Location: lungs/blood vessels; Function: diffusion & filtration; Nucleus: flat nucleus in center; ID clue: very thin flat cells

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Location: kidney tubules/glands; Function: secretion & absorption; Nucleus: round nucleus in center; ID clue: cube-shaped cells

Simple columnar epithelium

Location: digestive tract; Function: absorption & secretion; Nucleus: oval nucleus near bottom; ID clue: tall cells

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Location: respiratory tract; Function: moves mucus; Nucleus: nuclei at different heights; ID clue: cilia on top

Stratified squamous epithelium

Location: skin/mouth/esophagus; Function: protection; Nucleus: mostly in deeper layers; ID clue: many layers

Transitional epithelium

Location: urinary bladder; Function: stretching; Nucleus: round central nucleus; ID clue: rounded stretchy cells

Areolar CT

Location: under skin/around organs; Function: cushions organs; Nucleus: scattered fibroblast nuclei; ID clue: loose messy fibers

Reticular connective tissue

Location: spleen/lymph nodes; Function: provides a supportive framework; Nucleus: fibroblasts and fibrocytes; ID clue: reticular fibers forming a mesh-like structure

Adipose

Location: under skin/around organs; Function: stores fat; Nucleus: pushed to edge; ID clue: empty bubble appearance

Dense regular CT

Location: tendons/ligaments; Function: strong attachment; Nucleus: thin nuclei between fibers; ID clue: parallel collagen lines

Dense irregular CT

Location: dermis of skin; Function: strength in many directions; Nucleus: scattered fibroblast nuclei; ID clue: swirly collagen

Hyaline cartilage

Location: joints/trachea/nose; Function: support & cushion; Nucleus: chondrocytes in lacunae; ID clue: glassy matrix

Elastic cartilage

Location: ear/epiglottis; Function: flexible support; Nucleus: chondrocytes in lacunae; ID clue: elastic fibers

Fibrocartilage

Location: intervertebral discs; Function: shock absorption; Nucleus: chondrocytes in lacunae; ID clue: thick collagen bundles

Blood

Location: blood vessels; Function: transport; Nucleus: WBC have nucleus; RBC do not; ID clue: cells floating in plasma

Compact bone

Location: bones; Function: support & protection; Nucleus: osteocytes in lacunae; ID clue: circular osteons

Skeletal muscle

Location: attached to bones; Function: voluntary movement; Nucleus: many nuclei on edges; ID clue: striations

Cardiac muscle

Location: heart; Function: pumps blood; Nucleus: single central nucleus; ID clue: branching cells & discs

Smooth muscle

Location: walls of organs; Function: involuntary movement; Nucleus: cigar-shaped central nucleus; ID clue: no striations

Neuron

Location: brain/spinal cord/nerves; Function: sends signals; Nucleus: large nucleus in cell body; ID clue: star-shaped cell

Neuroglia

Location: around neurons; Function: support neurons; Nucleus: tiny dark nuclei; ID clue: small support cells

Skeletal muscle

Location: attached to bones; Function: voluntary movement; Nucleus: many nuclei on edges; ID clue: striations