Skip to main content
Back

Anatomy & Physiology: Chapter 4 - Tissue: The Living Fabric

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/30

Terms in this set (30)

  • What are the four basic tissue types in the human body?
    Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.
  • What is histology?
    Histology is the study of tissues.
  • What are the two main forms of epithelial tissue?
    Covering and lining epithelia (external and internal surfaces) and glandular epithelia (secretory tissue in glands).
  • List the five special characteristics of epithelial tissue.
    Polarity, specialized contacts, supported by connective tissues, avascular but innervated, and regeneration.
  • What is the difference between the apical and basal surfaces of epithelial cells?
    The apical surface is the upper free side exposed to the surface or cavity, often with microvilli; the basal surface is the lower attached side facing inward toward the body, anchored by the basal lamina.
  • How are epithelial cells held together?
    By specialized lateral contacts including tight junctions and desmosomes forming continuous sheets.
  • What is the basement membrane and its function?
    The basement membrane is made of basal and reticular lamina; it reinforces epithelial sheets, resists stretching and tearing, and defines epithelial boundaries.
  • Why is epithelial tissue avascular but innervated?
    It contains no blood vessels and is nourished by diffusion from underlying connective tissue but is supplied by nerve fibers.
  • How are epithelial tissues classified by layers?
    Simple epithelia have a single cell layer; stratified epithelia have two or more layers and mainly provide protection.
  • What are the three common shapes of epithelial cells?
    Squamous (flattened), cuboidal (cube-shaped), and columnar (tall, column-like).
  • Describe simple squamous epithelium and its function.
    Single layer of flattened cells allowing rapid diffusion and filtration; found in kidney glomeruli and lungs.
  • What is the function of simple cuboidal epithelium?
    Involved in secretion and absorption; found in kidney tubules and gland ducts.
  • Where is simple columnar epithelium found and what is its function?
    Found in digestive tract and uterine tubes; functions in absorption and secretion, often contains microvilli and goblet cells.
  • What is pseudostratified columnar epithelium?
    A single layer of cells of varying heights that appears stratified; often ciliated and involved in mucus secretion and movement.
  • What distinguishes stratified squamous epithelium?
    Multiple layers with squamous cells at the surface; protects against abrasion; keratinized in skin, nonkeratinized in moist linings.
  • What is transitional epithelium and where is it found?
    Stratified epithelium with cells that change shape when stretched; found in urinary bladder, ureters, and urethra.
  • Differentiate endocrine and exocrine glands.
    Endocrine glands secrete hormones internally into blood; exocrine glands secrete onto body surfaces or cavities via ducts.
  • What are the modes of secretion in multicellular exocrine glands?
    Merocrine (exocytosis), holocrine (cell ruptures), and apocrine (apex of cell pinches off).
  • What are the three main elements of connective tissue?
    Ground substance, fibers, and cells.
  • Name the three types of connective tissue fibers and their functions.
    Collagen fibers provide tensile strength, elastic fibers allow stretch and recoil, reticular fibers form supportive networks.
  • What are the main functions of connective tissue?
    Binding and support, protection, insulation, storing reserve fuel, and transporting substances.
  • Describe areolar connective tissue.
    Loose connective tissue that cushions organs, holds interstitial fluid, and contains fibroblasts, macrophages, and fat cells.
  • What is the primary function of adipose tissue?
    Stores energy as fat, provides insulation and shock absorption.
  • What distinguishes dense regular connective tissue?
    Closely packed collagen fibers aligned parallel to resist tension in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.
  • What is the role of cartilage in connective tissue?
    Provides flexible support and cushioning; avascular with chondrocytes in lacunae.
  • Name the three types of cartilage and a key location for each.
    Hyaline (ends of long bones), elastic (ear), fibrocartilage (intervertebral discs).
  • What are osteoblasts and osteocytes?
    Osteoblasts build bone matrix; osteocytes maintain it within lacunae.
  • What makes blood a connective tissue?
    It consists of cells suspended in a fluid extracellular matrix (plasma) and transports nutrients, gases, and wastes.
  • What are the three types of muscle tissue?
    Skeletal (voluntary, striated), cardiac (involuntary, striated), and smooth (involuntary, non-striated).
  • What is the function of nervous tissue?
    To regulate and control body functions by generating and conducting nerve impulses.