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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Structure and Function

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Terms in this set (29)

  • What are the four basic types of tissues in the human body?
    Muscle, neural, connective, and epithelial tissues.
  • Define tissue integrity.
    Tissue integrity is the state of structurally intact and physiologically functioning epithelial tissues such as the skin and mucous membranes.
  • What is inflammation in terms of tissue injury?
    Inflammation is a normal physiological response to cellular injury that protects and allows the body to heal and repair.
  • What is histology?
    The study of tissues.
  • What are the main functions of epithelial tissue?
    Protection, absorption, filtration, excretion, secretion, and sensory reception.
  • List five characteristics of epithelial tissues.
    Cellularity, avascular but innervated, polarity, supported by connective tissue, and regeneration.
  • What is the difference between the apical and basal surfaces of epithelial tissue?
    The apical surface is exposed to the exterior or cavity, while the basal surface is attached to the basement membrane.
  • How are epithelial tissues classified by layers?
    Simple epithelia have a single cell layer; stratified epithelia have two or more layers.
  • Name the three common shapes of epithelial cells.
    Squamous (flat), cuboidal (cube-shaped), and columnar (tall).
  • Describe simple squamous epithelium and its function.
    Single layer of flattened cells; allows diffusion and filtration; found in lungs, heart lining, blood vessels, and serous membranes.
  • What is the function and location of simple cuboidal epithelium?
    Secretion and absorption; located in kidney tubules and ducts of small glands.
  • Describe simple columnar epithelium and its functions.
    Tall cells with nuclei near the base; non-ciliated type absorbs and secretes mucus; ciliated type propels substances; found in digestive tract and uterus.
  • What is pseudostratified columnar epithelium?
    Single layer of cells with varying heights and nuclei at different levels; appears stratified but is not; functions in secretion and propulsion of mucus; found in respiratory tract.
  • What is the main function of stratified epithelial tissues?
    Protection, especially in areas subject to abrasion.
  • What is transitional epithelium and where is it found?
    Epithelium that can stretch and change shape; found in the urinary bladder.
  • Differentiate between endocrine and exocrine glands.
    Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood without ducts; exocrine glands secrete products onto body surfaces or cavities through ducts.
  • What are the three main components of connective tissue?
    Ground substance, fibers, and cells.
  • Name the three types of fibers in connective tissue and their functions.
    Collagen fibers provide strength, elastic fibers allow stretch and recoil, reticular fibers form fine meshwork.
  • What are the two subclasses of connective tissue proper?
    Loose connective tissue (areolar, adipose, reticular) and dense connective tissue (regular, irregular, elastic).
  • Describe the characteristics and functions of areolar connective tissue.
    Most widely distributed; supports and binds tissues, stores nutrients, defends against infection, and soaks up fluid during inflammation.
  • What is the difference between dense regular and dense irregular connective tissue?
    Dense regular has collagen fibers aligned in one direction for strength (tendons, ligaments); dense irregular has fibers arranged irregularly for strength in multiple directions (dermis, joints).
  • List the three types of cartilage and one key feature of each.
    Hyaline cartilage (firm but flexible), elastic cartilage (maintains shape with flexibility), fibrocartilage (absorbs compression).
  • What are the main functions of bone tissue?
    Supports and protects body structures, stores fat, synthesizes blood cells, and contains inorganic calcium salts.
  • Why is blood classified as connective tissue?
    Because it has cells suspended in a nonliving matrix (plasma) and connects body systems by transporting substances.
  • What are the three types of muscle tissue and their control types?
    Skeletal muscle (voluntary), cardiac muscle (involuntary), smooth muscle (involuntary).
  • What are the two main types of nerve cells?
    Neurons (generate and conduct impulses) and neuroglia (support and protect neurons).
  • What are the three types of membranes composed of epithelial and connective tissues?
    Cutaneous (skin), mucous (line body cavities open to exterior), and serous (line closed ventral body cavities).
  • What are the two major types of tissue repair?
    Regeneration (replacement with same tissue) and fibrosis (replacement with scar tissue).
  • Which tissues have high regenerative capacity?
    Epithelial tissues, bone, areolar connective tissue, dense irregular connective tissue, and blood-forming tissue.