Tissue Lab – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues discussed in the Tissue Lab lecture, including their structure, functions, locations, and key cell types.

Tissue

A group of cells with similar structure and function working together as a unit.

Epithelial tissue

Tightly packed, polarity-bearing cells that cover surfaces, line cavities and glands; functions include protection, absorption/secretion, filtration, and sensation.

Apical surface

The free, exposed surface of an epithelial cell that faces the body exterior or lumen.

Basal surface

The bottom surface of an epithelial cell that rests on the basement membrane.

Basement membrane

Thin extracellular layer secreted by epithelium and connective tissue that anchors epithelium to underlying structures.

Simple squamous epithelium

Single layer of flat cells; allows diffusion/filtration; lines alveoli, blood vessels (endothelium) and serous membranes (mesothelium).

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells with central nuclei; performs secretion and absorption; found in kidney tubules, small gland ducts, ovary surface.

Simple columnar epithelium

Single layer of tall cells (may bear microvilli or cilia); absorbs and secretes mucus, enzymes; non-ciliated type lines digestive tract, ciliated type lines small bronchi and uterine tubes.

Goblet cell

Unicellular mucus-secreting gland often found in columnar and pseudostratified epithelia.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multilayered tissue with flat surface cells; protects against abrasion; nonkeratinized in mouth, esophagus, vagina; keratinized in epidermis.

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Usually two layers of cube-like cells; provides protection; lines large ducts of sweat, mammary, and salivary glands.

Stratified columnar epithelium

Rare tissue with columnar surface cells over cuboidal basal cells; protects and secretes; found in male urethra and some large ducts.

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Single layer of cells of varying heights with nuclei at different levels, bearing cilia and goblet cells; secretes and propels mucus; lines trachea and upper respiratory tract.

Transitional epithelium

Stratified tissue whose surface cells change shape (dome to flat) to allow stretch; lines ureters, urinary bladder, and part of urethra.

Connective tissue

Most abundant tissue; widely spaced cells in an extracellular matrix of fibers and ground substance; functions in support, protection, binding, storage and transport.

Ground substance

Amorphous material (water, proteoglycans, proteins) filling space between connective tissue cells and fibers.

Collagen fiber

Thick, strong, unbranched protein fiber providing tensile strength to connective tissues.

Elastic fiber

Thin, branching fiber containing elastin; allows tissues to stretch and recoil.

Reticular fiber

Fine, branching collagen fiber forming delicate supportive networks (stroma).

Embryonic connective tissue: mesenchyme

Gel-like tissue of star-shaped cells that gives rise to all other connective tissue types; found primarily in the embryo.

Connective tissue proper: loose, areolar

Gel-like matrix with all fiber types; wraps & cushions organs, holds tissue fluid; widely distributed under epithelia (lamina propria), surrounds capillaries.

Connective tissue proper: loose, adipose

Sparse matrix with closely packed adipocytes storing fat; insulates, cushions organs, energy reserve; under skin, around kidneys & eyeballs, in abdomen & breasts.

Connective tissue proper: loose, reticular

Network of reticular fibers forming stroma that supports blood cells; located in lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen.

Connective tissue proper: dense regular

Parallel collagen fibers with few elastic fibers; resists unidirectional tension; forms tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses.

Connective tissue proper: dense irregular

Irregularly arranged collagen fibers; withstands multidirectional stress; found in dermis, organ capsules, submucosa of GI tract.

Connective tissue proper: elastic connective tissue

Dense tissue rich in elastic fibers; allows recoil after stretching; forms walls of large arteries, some vertebral ligaments, bronchial tube walls.

Fluid connective tissue: blood

Red and white blood cells suspended in plasma; transports gases, nutrients, wastes, hormones; contained within blood vessels.

Fluid connective tissue: lymph

Clear fluid connective tissue in lymphatic vessels; returns leaked plasma to blood, houses immune cells.

Supporting connective tissue: cartilage, hyaline

Firm matrix with imperceptible collagen, chondrocytes in lacunae; supports, cushions; forms embryonic skeleton, costal cartilages, nose, trachea, ends of long bones.

Supporting connective tissue: cartilage, elastic

Similar to hyaline but with abundant elastic fibers; maintains shape while flexible; in external ear and epiglottis.

Supporting connective tissue: cartilage, fibrocartilage

Less firm matrix with thick collagen; strong and compressible; found in intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, menisci of knees.

Supporting connective tissue: bone (osseous tissue)

Hard, calcified matrix with collagen; osteocytes in lacunae; supports, protects, stores minerals, houses marrow for blood formation.

Osteocyte

Mature bone cell residing in a lacuna that maintains bone matrix.

Chondrocyte

Mature cartilage cell occupying a lacuna within cartilage matrix.

Fibroblast

Primary connective tissue proper cell that secretes fibers and ground substance.

Adipocyte

Fat cell whose cytoplasm is occupied by a large lipid droplet; stores energy and insulates.

Mast cell

Connective tissue cell that releases histamine and other mediators of inflammation.

Macrophage

Phagocytic immune cell found in tissues; engulfs pathogens and debris.

Muscle tissue

Contractile tissue that produces movement; includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth types.

Skeletal muscle

Long, multinucleate, striated fibers under voluntary control; attach to bones and skin to produce body movements.

Cardiac muscle

Branched, striated, mostly uninucleate cells connected by intercalated discs; involuntarily propels blood in heart walls.

Intercalated disc

Specialized junction connecting cardiac muscle cells for synchronized contraction.

Smooth muscle

Spindle-shaped, non-striated cells with central nuclei; involuntarily propels substances through hollow organs.

Nervous tissue

Composed of neurons and neuroglia; specialized for communication via electrical and chemical signals; forms brain, spinal cord, nerves.

Neuron

Excitable cell with cell body, dendrites, and axon that transmits electrical impulses.

Neuroglia

Supporting cells of nervous tissue that nourish, protect, and insulate neurons.

Polarity (in epithelium)

Structural and functional difference between apical and basal surfaces of epithelial cells.

Avascular

Lacking blood vessels; epithelial tissues rely on diffusion for nutrients.

Regeneration (epithelium)

High mitotic capacity allowing epithelial cells to rapidly replace lost or damaged cells.

Lamina propria

Areolar connective tissue layer underlying a mucous membrane epithelium.

Mesothelium

Simple squamous epithelium lining ventral body cavities (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum).

Endothelium

Simple squamous epithelium lining heart chambers, blood and lymphatic vessels.