Anatomy C3

Tissues

The four main types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Epithelial tissue

Covers body surfaces, lines body cavities and organs, and forms glands.

Connective tissue

Supports, connects, protects, stores, and transports throughout the body.

Muscle tissue

Produces movement by contracting.

Nervous tissue

Communicates and controls body functions through electrical signals.

Apical surface

The free or top surface of an epithelial cell that faces an open space or the outside of the body.

Basement membrane

A thin layer underneath epithelial tissue that attaches it to underlying connective tissue.

Simple epithelium

Epithelial tissue made of one layer of cells.

Stratified epithelium

Epithelial tissue made of two or more layers of cells.

Pseudostratified epithelium

One layer of cells that looks like multiple layers because the cells are different heights.

Squamous epithelium

Epithelium made of flat, thin cells.

Cuboidal epithelium

Epithelium made of cube-shaped cells.

Columnar epithelium

Epithelium made of tall, column-shaped cells.

Simple squamous epithelium

One layer of flat cells; functions in diffusion and filtration; found in lung alveoli, blood vessels, and serous membranes.

Simple cuboidal epithelium

One layer of cube-shaped cells; functions in absorption and secretion; found in kidney tubules and glands.

Simple columnar epithelium

One layer of tall cells; functions in absorption and secretion; found mainly in the digestive tract.

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

One layer of tall cells that appears layered; commonly functions in mucus secretion and movement; found in the respiratory tract.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multiple layers with flat surface cells; mainly functions in protection; found in skin, mouth, and esophagus.

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Multiple layers of cube-shaped cells; functions mainly in protection and secretion; found in larger gland ducts.

Stratified columnar epithelium

Multiple layers with tall surface cells; functions mainly in protection and secretion; found in some large ducts and the male urethra.

Transitional epithelium

Stratified epithelium that can stretch and change shape; found in the urinary bladder and ureters.

Goblet cells

Specialized epithelial cells that secrete mucus; commonly found in the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Serous membrane / serosa

A membrane that lines closed body cavities and covers organs; produces fluid that reduces friction.

Mucosae / mucous membrane

A membrane that lines body passages that open to the outside, such as the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Gland

A cell or group of cells that produces and secretes a substance.

Secretion

A substance released by a cell or gland.

Endocrine glands

Glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream; they are ductless.

Exocrine glands

Glands that release their products through ducts, such as sweat and salivary glands.

Extracellular matrix

Material outside the cells of connective tissue; provides support and structure.

Bone

A supporting connective tissue that provides support and protection, allows movement, stores minerals, and contains marrow.

Cartilage

A supporting connective tissue that is firm but flexible.

Hyaline cartilage

Cartilage that provides support and cushioning; found in the nose, trachea, ends of bones, and costal cartilage.

Fibrocartilage

Strong cartilage that provides shock absorption; found in intervertebral discs, menisci, and the pubic symphysis.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage that provides flexible support; found in the external ear and epiglottis.

Dense connective tissue / dense fibrous tissue

Connective tissue containing many strong collagen fibers; provides strength.

Tendons

Strong connective tissues that connect muscle to bone.

Ligaments

Strong connective tissues that connect bone to bone and stabilize joints.

Loose connective tissue

Connective tissue that provides support, cushioning, and flexibility around organs and tissues.

Areolar tissue

Loose connective tissue that wraps and cushions organs and holds tissues together.

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues that causes swelling.

Adipose tissue

Fat tissue that stores energy, provides insulation, and cushions/protects organs.

Reticular connective tissue

Connective tissue that forms a supporting framework in organs such as lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow.

Stroma

The supporting framework of an organ.

Blood

A fluid connective tissue whose cells are suspended in plasma; transports substances and helps protect and regulate the body.

Skeletal muscle tissue

Voluntary, striated muscle tissue attached to bones that produces body movement.

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle tissue found only in the heart; pumps blood.

Intercalated disks

Special connections between cardiac muscle cells that allow them to communicate and contract together.

Smooth / visceral muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels.

Nervous tissue

Tissue specialized for communication and control; found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Neurons

Nervous tissue cells specialized for receiving and transmitting electrical signals.

Supporting cells

Cells in nervous tissue that support, protect, nourish, and maintain neurons.

Regeneration

Repair in which damaged tissue is replaced by the same type of tissue.

Fibrosis

Repair in which damaged tissue is replaced by scar tissue.

Neoplasm

An abnormal mass of tissue caused by uncontrolled cell growth.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells in a tissue.

Atrophy

A decrease in the size of a tissue or organ, often because cells become smaller.

Simple vs. stratified

Simple means one layer; stratified means multiple layers.

Squamous vs. cuboidal vs. columnar

Squamous cells are flat; cuboidal cells are cube-shaped; columnar cells are tall.

Tendon vs. ligament

Tendons connect muscle to bone; ligaments connect bone to bone.

Endocrine vs. exocrine

Endocrine glands release hormones into the blood; exocrine glands release substances through ducts.

Regeneration vs. fibrosis

Regeneration replaces damaged tissue with the original tissue; fibrosis produces scar tissue.

Hyperplasia vs. atrophy

Hyperplasia means more cells; atrophy means decreased tissue or organ size.

Skeletal vs. cardiac vs. smooth muscle

Skeletal is voluntary and attached to bones; cardiac is involuntary and found in the heart; smooth is involuntary and found in internal organs.

4 main epithelial tissue categories

Simple, stratified, pseudostratified, and transitional epithelium.

4 main body tissue types

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Simple squamous location

Lung alveoli, blood vessel lining, and serous membranes.

Simple cuboidal location

Kidney tubules and glands.

Simple columnar location

Digestive tract and gallbladder.

Pseudostratified columnar location

Respiratory tract.

Stratified squamous location

Skin, mouth, and esophagus.

Stratified cuboidal location

Larger ducts of glands, including sweat glands.

Stratified columnar location

Some large ducts and the male urethra.

Transitional location

Urinary bladder and ureters.

Bone tissue category

Supporting connective tissue.

Cartilage tissue category

Supporting connective tissue.

Blood tissue category

Fluid connective tissue.

Tendon tissue category

Dense connective tissue.

Adipose tissue category

Loose connective tissue.

Skeletal muscle category

Muscle tissue.

Cardiac muscle category

Muscle tissue.

Smooth muscle category

Muscle tissue.

Neurons tissue category

Nervous tissue.

"Simple = ?"

One layer.

"Stratified = ?"

Multiple layers.

"Squamous = ?"

Flat.

"Cuboidal = ?"

Cube-shaped.

"Columnar = ?"

Tall.

"Transitional = ?"

Stretching; urinary system.

"Goblet cells = ?"

Mucus secretion.

"Intercalated disks = ?"

Cardiac muscle.

"Tendon = ?"

Muscle to bone.

"Ligament = ?"

Bone to bone.

"Fibrocartilage = ?"

Shock absorption.

"Elastic cartilage = ?"

Flexible support.

"Hyperplasia = ?"

Increased number of cells.

"Atrophy = ?"

Decreased size.

"Fibrosis = ?"

Scar tissue.

"Neoplasm = ?"

Abnormal mass.