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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Structure and Function

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Terms in this set (32)

  • What is cell specialization in the human body?
    Individual body cells perform specific functions that help maintain homeostasis and benefit the body as a whole, such as muscle cells contracting and skin cells protecting.
  • Name the four primary tissue types in the human body.
    Epithelial tissue (covers), connective tissue (supports), muscle tissue (moves), and nervous tissue (controls).
  • What is the main function of epithelial tissue?
    Forms boundaries between different environments, protects, secretes, absorbs, filters, and participates in sensory reception.
  • What are the two main forms of epithelial tissue?
    Covering and lining epithelium (outer skin and internal cavities) and glandular epithelium (forms glands).
  • What does apical-basal polarity mean in epithelial tissue?
    Epithelial cells have an apical surface exposed to the body exterior or cavity and a basal surface attached to underlying connective tissue.
  • How are epithelial tissues classified by cell layers?
    Simple epithelia have a single cell layer; stratified epithelia have two or more layers.
  • What are the three common shapes of epithelial cells?
    Squamous (flattened), cuboidal (boxlike), and columnar (tall, column-shaped).
  • What is the function of simple squamous epithelium?
    Allows materials to pass by diffusion and filtration; found in kidney glomeruli, air sacs of lungs, and lining of blood vessels.
  • Where is simple cuboidal epithelium found and what is its function?
    Found in kidney tubules and small gland ducts; functions in secretion and absorption.
  • Describe simple columnar epithelium and its functions.
    Single layer of tall cells with microvilli or cilia; functions in absorption, secretion of mucus and enzymes, and ciliary propulsion.
  • What is pseudostratified columnar epithelium?
    A single layer of cells of varying heights giving a false impression of multiple layers; often ciliated and involved in secretion and mucus propulsion.
  • What distinguishes stratified squamous epithelium?
    Multiple layers with basal cells cuboidal or columnar and surface cells flattened; protects against abrasion; keratinized in skin, nonkeratinized in moist linings.
  • What is transitional epithelium and where is it found?
    Epithelium that changes shape to stretch; found lining urinary organs like the bladder, allowing distension.
  • How are glands classified based on secretion location?
    Endocrine glands secrete hormones internally into blood; exocrine glands secrete onto body surfaces or cavities via ducts.
  • What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular exocrine glands?
    Unicellular glands (e.g., goblet cells) secrete directly; multicellular glands have ducts and secretory units.

  • Multicellular exocrine glands can be classified

    by structure and by mode of secretion

  • Structural classification have two types

    Simple glands have an

    unbranched duct, whereas compound glands have a branched duct. tubular and alveolar or tubuloalveolar if they have both types of secretory units.

  • What are the three modes of secretion in multicellular exocrine glands?
    Merocrine (exocytosis), holocrine (cell ruptures), and apocrine (apex pinches off).
  • What are the main components of connective tissue?
    Ground substance, fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular), and cells.
  • What are the functions of connective tissue?
    Binding and supporting, protecting, insulating, storing fuel, and transporting substances.
  • What is the extracellular matrix in connective tissue?
    Nonliving material between cells composed of ground substance and fibers that provides strength and support.
  • 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 delicate networks supporting soft organs.

  • diff types of ct cells

    Fibroblasts become fibrocytes in ct. Chondroblasts become chondrocytes in cartilidge. Osteoblasts become osteocytes in bone. Adipocytes store fat. Leukocytes (wbc) help during injury. Masr cells, arnd blood vessels and release chemicals. Macrophages devour dust and bacteria.

  • What are fibroblasts and their role in connective tissue?
    Immature cells that secrete ground substance and fibers; they become fibrocytes that maintain the matrix.
  • Describe areolar connective tissue and its functions.
    Loose connective tissue with gel-like matrix; supports and binds tissues, holds fluids, defends against infection, and stores nutrients.
  • What is adipose tissue and its primary function?
    Fat tissue with closely packed adipocytes storing energy, insulating, and cushioning organs.
  • What is the difference between white and brown adipose tissue?
    White fat stores nutrients; brown fat contains mitochondria that generate heat instead of ATP.
  • What characterizes dense regular connective tissue?
    Parallel collagen fibers with fibroblasts; resists tension in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.
  • How does dense irregular connective tissue differ from dense regular?
    Collagen fibers arranged irregularly to resist tension from multiple directions; found in dermis and organ capsules.
  • What are the three types of cartilage?
    Hyaline cartilage (glass-like, supports and cushions), elastic cartilage (more elastic fibers, flexible), and fibrocartilage (strong, shock-absorbing).
  • What is the function of hyaline cartilage?
    Provides firm support with some flexibility; found on bone ends, nose tip, ribs, and respiratory passages.
  • Where is elastic connective tissue found and its function?
    Found in some ligaments and large arteries; allows tissues to stretch and recoil.