Unit 1 Lesson 3 - Body Basics and Foundations: Tissues

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the four primary body tissue types, cell shapes, arrangements, specific connective tissues, membranes, muscle, nervous tissue, tissue repair, and aging concepts.

Tissue

A group of cells with similar structure and function that perform specialized tasks within the body.

Epithelial Tissue

A body tissue that covers and protects body surfaces, lines internal cavities and organs, regulates exchange, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

A widespread body tissue that provides structural support, connects different body parts, stores energy as fat, and provides immunity.

Muscular Tissue

A body tissue composed of specialized elongated cells capable of contracting and relaxing to produce movement, maintain posture, and generate heat.

Nervous Tissue

Body tissue found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that detects stimuli and transmits electrical signals to regulate body functions.

Avascular

Describing tissues that generally lack blood vessels, such as epithelial tissue and cartilage.

Simple Epithelium

A single layer of epithelial cells that functions in diffusion, osmosis, filtration, secretion, and absorption.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

An epithelial tissue that appears to contain multiple cell layers because cell nuclei are located at multiple levels, though not all cells reach the apical surface.

Stratified Epithelium

An epithelial tissue consisting of two or more cell layers that protect underlying tissues against physical wear and tear.

Squamous Cells

Thin, flat epithelial cells that allow for rapid passage of substances through them.

Cuboidal Cells

Epithelial cells shaped like cubes or hexagons with equal height and width, often featuring apical microvilli and functioning in secretion or absorption.

Columnar Cells

Tall epithelial cells with a height much greater than their width, specialized for protection, secretion, and absorption.

Transitional Cells

Variable epithelial cells that can change shape from flat to cuboidal and back, allowing stretch in distensible organs such as the urinary bladder.

Endothelium

The simple squamous epithelial layer lining the inside of the heart, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

Mesothelium

The simple squamous epithelial layer of serous membranes, including the peritoneum, pleura, and pericardium.

Goblet Cells

Modified columnar epithelial cells that secrete mucus to lubricate internal tissue linings and trap foreign particles.

Urothelium

Another term for stratified transitional epithelium.

Gland

A single cell or group of highly specialized epithelial cells that secretes a specific substance.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into body fluids and the bloodstream.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that secrete substances through ducts or tubes onto a body surface or into an internal cavity.

Extracellular Matrix

The non-cellular material located between widely spaced cells in connective tissue, composed of ground substance and protein fibers.

Ground Substance

A gel-like nonfibrous component of connective tissue composed of water, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins that fills space between cells and fibers.

Fibroblasts

Large, flat, star-shaped connective tissue cells with branching processes that secrete ground substance and protein fibers.

Macrophages

Phagocytic scavenger cells in connective tissue that develop from monocytes to defend the body against infection.

Plasma Cells

Connective tissue immune cells developed from B lymphocytes that secrete antibodies to neutralize foreign invaders.

Mast Cells

Large cells located near blood vessels in connective tissue that release heparin and histamine during inflammatory and immune responses.

Adipocytes

Fat cells in connective tissue that store energy, provide insulation, and cushion internal organs.

Collagen Fibers

Strong, flexible protein fibers made of the body's most abundant protein that offer high tensile strength to resist stretching and tearing.

Elastic Fibers

Stretchable but strong protein fibers made of elastin and fibrillin that allow tissues to stretch and recoil without damage.

Reticular Fibers

Very thin branching fibers made of collagen with a glycoprotein coating that form a supportive meshwork (stroma) inside soft organs.

Areolar Tissue

A common type of loose connective tissue containing fibroblasts, immune cells, and loosely woven fibers in gel-like ground substance.

Chondrocytes

Mature cartilage cells that occur individually or in groups within spaces called lacunae.

Lacunae

Small spaces or cavities in matrix filled with gel-like fluid that contain chondrocytes in cartilage or osteocytes in bone.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most abundant but weakest type of cartilage, featuring a smooth, glassy bluish-white appearance that provides flexible support.

Fibrocartilage

The strongest type of cartilage, composed of chondrocytes scattered among visible bundles of collagen fibers for shock absorption.

Osteocyte

A star-shaped mature cell located within a lacuna in mineralized bone tissue.

Mucous Membranes

Epithelial membranes that line body cavities opening directly to the exterior, secreting mucus to trap pathogens and debris.

Serous Membranes

Epithelial membranes lining closed body cavities that secrete lubricating serous fluid to reduce friction between organs.

Cutaneous Membrane

The epithelial membrane that forms the skin (integument), serving as the body's outer protective layer.

Synovial Membranes

Connective tissue membranes that line joint cavities and secrete fluid to lubricate joints and reduce wear.

Meninges

Three protective connective tissue membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle tissue containing multiple nuclei per cell, attached to bones to power body movement.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle tissue with single-nucleated branching fibers connected by intercalated discs that pump blood through the heart.

Smooth Muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle tissue composed of single-nucleated, spindle-shaped cells that line hollow internal organs and blood vessels.

Neurons

Primary nervous tissue cells specialized for converting stimuli into nerve impulses and transmitting signals.

Neuroglia

Non-conductive cells in nervous tissue that provide essential support, nourishment, and protection to neurons.

Stroma

The supporting connective tissue framework of an organ or tissue.

Parenchyma

The functional cell tissue of an organ, distinct from the structural stroma.

Fibrosis

A tissue repair process occurring when cell regeneration is incomplete, forming scar tissue that replaces normal parenchymal structure.