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Anatomy & Physiology I: Tissue and Histology Study Guide

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Terms in this set (21)

  • What are the four major tissue types in the human body?
    Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.
  • What is the main characteristic of epithelial tissue surfaces?
    Epithelial tissues have a free (apical) surface facing air or fluid-filled spaces called lumens and an attached surface on a basement membrane.
  • Where is simple squamous epithelium found and what is its function?
    Found in alveoli of lungs and kidney, it allows for diffusion and filtration due to its thin, flat cells.
  • What distinguishes stratified squamous epithelium, keratinized from non-keratinized?
    Keratinized type is found only in skin with anucleate surface cells; non-keratinized is found in esophagus with surface cells containing nuclei.
  • What is the function of goblet cells in epithelial tissue?
    Goblet cells secrete mucus to lubricate and protect epithelial surfaces.
  • Name the connective tissue type that is most widely distributed and diverse.
    Connective tissue is the most widely distributed and diverse tissue type in the body.
  • What are the main fiber types found in areolar connective tissue?
    Areolar connective tissue contains collagen fibers (thick, pink), elastic fibers, and reticular fibers (both thinner).
  • How can adipose tissue be identified with different stains?
    With H&E stain, fat droplets appear white (washed out), while with osmic acid (fat stain), fat droplets stain black.
  • Where is dense regular connective tissue found and what is its fiber arrangement?
    Found mainly in tendons and ligaments, fibers are tightly packed collagen arranged in parallel rows.
  • What is the key feature of elastic connective tissue?
    Contains abundant elastic fibers allowing tissues to stretch and recoil.
  • Where is hyaline cartilage located and what are its identifying features?
    Located in trachea, larynx, nose, articular surfaces, ribs, fetal skeleton; features include chondrocytes in lacunae and a smooth matrix.
  • How does fibrocartilage differ from hyaline cartilage?
    Fibrocartilage has numerous collagen fibers giving a grainy matrix appearance, found in intervertebral discs and symphysis pubis.
  • What are the main components of compact bone tissue?
    Compact bone consists of osteons (Haversian systems), lamellae, central canals, lacunae with osteocytes, and canaliculi.
  • What is the matrix of blood called and what are its formed elements?
    The matrix is plasma; formed elements include erythrocytes, leukocytes (granulocytes and agranulocytes), and platelets.
  • Name the three types of muscle tissue and a key identifying feature of each.
    Skeletal: multinucleate, striated, peripheral nuclei; Cardiac: branched, striated, intercalated discs; Smooth: spindle-shaped, no striations, single central nucleus.
  • What unique structure is found only in cardiac muscle tissue?
    Intercalated discs connect cardiac muscle cells and allow synchronized contraction.
  • What are the two major cell types in nervous tissue?
    Neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglial cells (support cells).
  • What is the function of the myelin sheath in nervous tissue?
    The myelin sheath insulates axons to increase the speed of nerve impulse conduction.
  • How can you distinguish an artery from a vein in cross-section?
    Arteries have a thick muscular wall (tunica media) and smaller lumen; veins have a thinner wall and larger lumen.
  • What is the tunica intima composed of in blood vessels?
    The tunica intima consists of simple squamous epithelium (endothelium) plus a thin layer of underlying connective tissue.
  • What is the appearance of a nerve in cross-section?
    Nerves have no lumen and show cross-sections of myelinated axons, often described as frothy in appearance.