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Anatomy & Physiology: Histology and Tissue Types

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Terms in this set (22)

  • What is histology?

    Histology is the study of tissues, focusing on their structure and function.

  • What are the two basic components shared by all tissues?

    A population of cells with related structure and function, and an extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the cells.

  • Name the four primary tissue types.

    1) Epithelial tissues
    2) Connective tissues
    3) Muscle tissues
    4) Nervous tissues

  • What is the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its main components?

    The ECM surrounds tissue cells and consists of ground substance and protein fibers. It provides strength, directs cell positioning, and holds cells in place.

  • What are glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the ECM?

    GAGs are long polysaccharide chains like hyaluronic acid that trap water in the ECM, helping it remain firm.

  • What are the three types of protein fibers in the ECM?

    Collagen fibers (resist tension), elastin fibers (stretch and recoil), and reticular fibers (form supportive meshwork).

  • What are cell junctions and their major types?

    Cell junctions connect cells using membrane proteins. Major types: tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions.

  • Describe tight junctions.

    Tight junctions hold cells closely together, forming a seal that prevents macromolecule movement between cells.

  • What are desmosomes and their function?

    Desmosomes use linker proteins attached to the cytoskeleton to hold cells together, increasing tissue strength, especially in skin.

  • What are gap junctions?

    Gap junctions are protein channels between cells allowing small substances and electrical signals to pass, important in cardiac muscle.

  • What are the main functions of epithelial tissues?

    Protection from injury, physical barriers, secretion of hormones and oils, selective permeability, and sensory detection.

  • What is the basement membrane in epithelial tissue?

    The basement membrane anchors epithelial tissue to underlying connective tissue and consists of the basal lamina and reticular lamina.

  • How are epithelia classified?

    By number of cell layers: simple (one layer) or stratified (multiple layers), and by cell shape: squamous (flat), cuboidal (cube-shaped), or columnar (tall).

  • What is the function of simple squamous epithelium?

    Allows rapid diffusion and filtration; found in air sacs of lungs and blood vessel linings.

  • What distinguishes endocrine glands from exocrine glands?

    Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream; exocrine glands release products onto epithelial surfaces via ducts.

  • What are the two main groups of connective tissue?

    Connective tissue proper and specialized connective tissues.

  • Name the four types of connective tissue proper.

    Loose connective tissue, dense connective tissue, reticular tissue, and adipose tissue.

  • What are the three classes of dense connective tissue?

    Dense irregular (disorganized collagen), dense regular (parallel collagen), and dense elastic (parallel with elastic fibers).

  • What are the three types of specialized connective tissues?

    Cartilage, bone, and blood.

  • What are the three types of cartilage?

    Hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage.

  • What are the three types of muscle tissue?

    Skeletal muscle (striated, voluntary), cardiac muscle (striated, involuntary), and smooth muscle (non-striated, involuntary).

  • What are the two main cell types in nervous tissue?

    Neurons (send and receive messages) and neuroglial cells (support neurons).