Chapter 05: Tissues - Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the four primary tissue types, intercellular junctions, epithelial subcategories, connective tissue classifications, membranes, muscle tissues, and nervous tissue based on Chapter 5 of Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology.

Tissue

A group of similar cells organized together to perform a common function.

Histology

The scientific study of tissues.

Epithelial Tissue

A major tissue type that covers body surfaces, lines internal cavities and hollow organs, and composes glands; it lacks blood vessels and consists of tightly packed cells that divide readily.

Connective Tissue

The most abundant tissue type by weight; it binds, supports, protects, fills spaces, stores fat, and produces blood cells, with cells situated farther apart within an extracellular matrix.

Muscle Tissue

A contractile, excitable tissue able to shorten in response to specific stimuli to generate movement; found attached to bones, in the heart, and in walls of hollow internal organs.

Nervous Tissue

A tissue found in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves composed of cells that communicate and conduct impulses for coordination, regulation, integration, and sensory reception.

Tight Junctions

Intercellular junctions that close the space between cells by fusing adjacent cell membranes; found between cells lining the small intestine.

Desmosomes

Intercellular junctions that bind cells together by forming "spot welds" between cell membranes; found in the outer skin layer.

Gap Junctions

Intercellular junctions that form tubular channels between cells, permitting the direct exchange of ions and small substances; found in cardiac muscle and digestive tract smooth muscle.

Basement Membrane

A nonliving layer that anchors the underside of epithelial tissue to the underlying connective tissue.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of thin, flattened cells adapted for diffusion, filtration, and osmosis; lines alveoli of lungs, capillary walls, and blood and lymphatic vessels.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-shaped cells functioning in secretion and absorption; lines kidney tubules, thyroid follicles, and ducts of certain glands, and covers ovaries.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of elongated cells with nuclei typically located near the basement membrane; specialized for secretion and absorption in the linings of the uterus, stomach, and intestines.

Goblet Cells

Specialized flask-shaped glandular cells scattered among epithelial cells that synthesize and secrete mucus.

Microvilli

Tiny cylindrical processes on the free apical surface of simple columnar cells that increase surface area to enhance absorption.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of elongated cells that appears layered because cell nuclei lie at two or more levels; commonly possesses cilia and goblet cells and lines respiratory passages.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A thick tissue with many cell layers whose outer cells are flattened and deeper cells are cuboidal; forms the keratinized epidermis of the skin and lines the oral cavity, vagina, and anal canal.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Tissue composed of 2 to 3 layers of cube-shaped cells providing protective lining in the ducts of mammary glands, sweat glands, salivary glands, and the pancreas.

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Tissue with an apical layer of elongated cells resting on deeper layers of cube-shaped cells; provides protection and secretion in parts of the male urethra and large excretory ducts.

Transitional Epithelium

Specialized expandable epithelial tissue (uroepithelium) consisting of many cell layers that change shape under tension; lines the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra.

Endocrine Glands

Glands composed of glandular epithelium that secrete hormones directly into tissue fluid or blood rather than into ducts.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that secrete cellular products into ducts opening onto an internal or external body surface.

Merocrine Glands

Exocrine glands that release fluid secretions via exocytosis while leaving the secretory cells intact; examples include salivary glands, pancreatic glands, and sweat glands.

Apocrine Glands

Exocrine glands that lose small, pinched-off portions of their cell bodies during the release of secretions; examples include mammary glands and ceruminous glands.

Holocrine Glands

Exocrine glands that release entire disintegrated cells filled with secretory products; sebaceous glands of the skin are an example.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Non-cellular material filling spaces between connective tissue cells, consisting of protein fibers and ground substance; anchors cells, provides scaffolding, and relays chemical signals.

Fibroblasts

The most common fixed cells in connective tissue; large, star-shaped cells that produce and secrete protein fibers into the extracellular matrix.

Macrophages

Motile wandering cells (histiocytes) derived from white blood cells that defend against infection and clear foreign particles and debris via phagocytosis.

Mast Cells

Large, widely distributed fixed cells located near blood vessels that secrete heparin to prevent blood clotting and histamine to stimulate inflammation.

Collagen Fibers

Thick, threadlike fibers of structural collagen protein (white fibers) that possess high tensile strength and flexibility to hold body structures together in tendons and ligaments.

Elastic Fibers

Branching fibers composed of the protein elastin (yellow fibers) that easily stretch and return to their original shape; prominent in vocal cords and respiratory passages.

Reticular Fibers

Thin, highly branched collagenous fibers that weave delicate supportive frameworks in internal organs such as the liver and spleen.

Chondrodysplasia

A genetic collagen defect wherein collagen chains are abnormally wide and asymmetric, leading to stunted growth and deformed joints.

Marfan Syndrome

A genetic disorder resulting from a deficiency of the protein fibrillin, characterized by long limbs, spindly fingers, a sunken chest, lens dislocation, and a weakened aorta.

Areolar Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue consisting of fibroblasts suspended in a gel-like ground substance with collagen and elastic fibers; lies beneath most epithelia and in the subcutaneous layer.

Adipose Tissue

A specialized loose connective tissue containing adipocytes that accumulate large fat droplets, crowding nuclei to the periphery; functions to cushion, insulate, and store energy.

Reticular Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue composed of a 3D network of thin reticular fibers and fibroblasts providing internal framework for organs such as the liver and spleen.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

A strong connective tissue composed of densely packed, parallel collagen fibers with few fibroblasts; withstands pulling forces in one direction in tendons and ligaments.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

A connective tissue featuring thick, randomly interwoven collagen bundles that withstand multidirectional tension; found in the dermis of the skin.

Elastic Connective Tissue

Connective tissue dominated by yellow elastic fibers with interspersed collagen fibers and fibroblasts; found in large artery walls, airways, and spinal column attachments.

Chondrocytes

Mature cartilage cells situated inside small chambers called lacunae completely surrounded by extracellular matrix.

Perichondrium

A dense covering of connective tissue enclosing cartilage that supplies blood vessels and nutrients to the underlying avascular matrix.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most common cartilage type, possessing fine collagen fibers in a glassy, gel-like matrix; found at articulating bone ends, the nose, respiratory rings, and the embryonic skeleton.

Elastic Cartilage

A flexible cartilage containing a dense network of elastic fibers within its matrix; forms the framework of the external ear and parts of the larynx.

Fibrocartilage

A tough cartilage containing numerous dense collagen fibers that acts as a shock absorber in intervertebral discs, the menisci of the knees, and the pelvic girdle.

Compact Bone

Dense osseous tissue consisting of cylindrical structural units called osteons, cemented together to form the outer portions of bones.

Osteon

The cylinder-shaped structural unit of compact bone consisting of concentric layers of matrix called lamellae clustered around a central canal containing blood vessels.

Canaliculi

Microscopic tubular channels in bone matrix through which cytoplasmic extensions of osteocytes connect and exchange nutrients.

Spongy Bone

Cancellous bone tissue located in interior bone regions, composed of branching bony plates containing osteocytes with intervening spaces for bone marrow.

Blood

A specialized fluid connective tissue consisting of formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) suspended in an extracellular fluid matrix called plasma.

Serous Membranes

Epithelial membranes made of simple squamous epithelium and areolar connective tissue that line closed body cavities (thorax and abdomen) and secrete watery lubricating fluid.

Mucous Membranes

Epithelial membranes lining body cavities and tubes that open to the outside (digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts) containing goblet cells that secrete mucus.

Cutaneous Membrane

An epithelial membrane commonly known as the skin, covering the exterior surface of the body as part of the integumentary system.

Synovial Membranes

Membranes composed entirely of connective tissue that line joint cavities.

Skeletal Muscle Tissue

Voluntary muscle tissue attached to bones; characterized by long, cylindrical, threadlike cells with multiple peripheral nuclei and prominent cross-striations.

Smooth Muscle Tissue

Involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue composed of spindle-shaped cells each with a single central nucleus; found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels.

Cardiac Muscle Tissue

Involuntary, striated muscle tissue found exclusively in the heart wall, consisting of branching, interconnected cells each with a single nucleus.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized intercellular junctions with transverse membrane thickenings that connect branching cardiac muscle cells end-to-end.

Neurons

Highly specialized cells of nervous tissue that communicate via electrical impulses; each consists of a cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon.

Neuroglia

Cells in nervous tissue that support, nourish, and protect neurons without conducting nerve impulses.