Tissue Basics
A group of cells that are similar in structure and work together to perform a common or related function.
What is a Tissue?
Epithelium consisting of a single layer of cells, common in areas for absorption, secretion, or filtration
What is Simple Epithelium?
A gland that secretes hormones directly into the blood or lymph
What is an Endocrine Gland?
The three main structural components shared by all connective tissues
What are Ground Substance, Fibers, and Cells?
The loose connective tissue that serves as the universal packing material between other tissues and holds organs in place.
What is Areolar Connective Tissue?
The four basic tissue types in the human body.
What are Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and Nervous
The shape of epithelial cells that are flat and scalelike, often found in the air sacs of the lungs for gas exchange.
What is Squamous?
The common unicellular exocrine gland found scattered in the epithelial linings of the intestinal and respiratory tracts
What is a Goblet Cell?
The most abundant protein fiber in connective tissue that provides high tensile strength.
What is Collagen
The avascular tissue that is firm, resilient, and composed of chondrocytes found in small spaces called lacunae.
What is Cartilage?
The two terms that describe the outer, unattached surface and the lower, attached surface of an epithelial sheet.
What are the Apical and Basal surfaces?
The primary function of stratified epithelium.
What is Protection
The secretion mechanism where the product is packaged into vesicles and released by exocytosis (e.g., sweat and salivary glands).
What is Merocrine secretion?
The cell that secretes the fibers and ground substance of connective tissue proper
What is a Fibroblast?
The type of dense connective tissue found in tendons and ligaments that is characterized by fibers running in one direction.
What is Dense Regular Connective Tissue?
The characteristic of epithelial tissue that means it lacks blood vessels.
What is Avascular?
The rare epithelium often found in the linings of some large ducts.
What is Stratified Columnar Epithelium?
The secretion mechanism where the entire cell ruptures to release its product and the dead cell fragments (e.g., sebaceous/oil glands)
What is Holocrine secretion?
The three types of fibers found in connective tissue.
What are Collagen, Elastic, and Reticular?
The three types of epithelial membranes found in the body.
What are Cutaneous (Skin), Mucous, and Serous?
The thin, supportive, non-cellular sheet that epithelial tissue rests on, reinforcing the epithelial sheet.
What is the Basement Membrane?
The stratified epithelium found lining the urinary bladder that allows the tissue to stretch as the organ fills.
What is Transitional Epithelium
A gland that secretes its products onto body surfaces or into body cavities (e.g., sweat, oil, saliva)
What is an Exocrine Gland?
The cell that secretes histamine and heparin, promoting local inflammation in response to injury.
What is a Mast Cell?
The specific type of cartilage found in the intervertebral discs and the pubic symphysis, known for resisting heavy compressive forces.