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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Types and Characteristics

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Terms in this set (27)

  • What are the four basic tissue types in the human body?

    Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

  • What is the main function of epithelial tissue?

    Protection, absorption, filtration, excretion, secretion, and sensory reception.

  • Name the five special characteristics of epithelial tissue.

    Polarity, specialized contacts, supported by connective tissue, avascular but innervated, and regeneration.

  • What is the difference between the apical and basal surfaces of epithelial cells?

    The apical surface faces the body surface or cavity and may have microvilli; the basal surface attaches to the basal lamina and faces inward.

  • What are the two main forms of epithelial tissue?

    Covering and lining epithelia (external and internal surfaces) and glandular epithelia (secretory tissue in glands).

  • How are epithelial tissues classified by layers and shape?

    By layers: simple (one layer) or stratified (multiple layers). By shape: squamous (flat), cuboidal (cube), or columnar (tall).

  • What is the function of simple squamous epithelium and where is it found?

    Allows rapid diffusion and filtration; found in kidney glomeruli, air sacs of lungs, and lining of blood vessels.

  • Describe the structure and function of simple cuboidal epithelium.

    Single layer of cube-like cells; involved in secretion and absorption; found in kidney tubules and gland ducts.

  • What distinguishes pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

    Appears multilayered but is a single layer; often ciliated; involved in secretion and mucus movement; found in upper respiratory tract.

  • What is the main role of stratified squamous epithelium?

    Protection against abrasion; found in areas of high wear like skin, mouth, and esophagus.

  • What is transitional epithelium and where is it located?

    Stratified epithelium that stretches; lines urinary bladder, ureters, and part of urethra.

  • Differentiate between endocrine and exocrine glands.

    Endocrine glands secrete hormones internally into blood; exocrine glands secrete onto body surfaces or cavities via ducts.

  • What are the three main structural elements of connective tissue?

    Ground substance, fibers, and cells.

  • Name the three types of fibers found in connective tissue.

    Collagen fibers (strongest), elastic fibers (stretch and recoil), and reticular fibers (fine, branched networks).

  • What are the four main classes of connective tissue?

    Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone, and blood.

  • Describe areolar connective tissue and its function.

    Loose connective tissue with fibroblasts and collagen fibers; acts as packing material and supports other tissues.

  • What is the primary function of adipose tissue?

    Stores energy as fat, provides shock absorption and insulation.

  • How does dense regular connective tissue differ from dense irregular connective tissue?

    Dense regular has parallel collagen fibers for tensile strength in one direction; dense irregular has irregularly arranged fibers resisting tension from multiple directions.

  • What are the three types of cartilage and their key features?

    Hyaline: most abundant, glassy; elastic: more elastic fibers; fibrocartilage: strong, shock-absorbing.

  • What distinguishes bone tissue from cartilage?

    Bone is highly vascularized, contains inorganic calcium salts, and supports and protects body structures; cartilage is avascular and more flexible.

  • What makes blood a connective tissue?

    It has cells suspended in a fluid matrix (plasma) and transports gases, nutrients, and wastes.

  • What are the three types of muscle tissue and their characteristics?

    Skeletal: voluntary, striated, multinucleated; cardiac: involuntary, striated, branched with intercalated discs; smooth: involuntary, non-striated, spindle-shaped.

  • What is the role of nervous tissue?

    Regulates and controls body functions by generating and conducting nerve impulses.

  • What are the three types of membranes composed of epithelial and connective tissue?

    Cutaneous (skin), mucous (line body cavities open to exterior), and serous (line closed ventral body cavities).

  • What are the two major processes of tissue repair?

    Regeneration: replacement with same tissue type; 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.

  • Which tissues have little to no regenerative capacity?

    Cardiac muscle and nervous tissue of brain and spinal cord.