CHAPTER 4 REVIEWER

Tissues –group of cells with similar structure and function that have extracellular substance.
Histology- study of cell structures

Epithelial Tissue
Epithelium- covers external and internal surfaces throughout the body.
 Free surface- not in contact with other cells
 Basal surface- adjacent to basement membrane, which attaches the epithelial cells to
underlying tissues.
Basement membrane- secreted partly by epithelial cells and partly by the cells of the
underlying tissues.
Functions of Epithelia
 Protecting underlying structures
 Acting as barriers
 Permitting the passage of substances
 Secreting substances
 Absorbing substances
Simple Epithelium- single layer of cells
Stratified Epithelium- more than one layer, cells sitting on top of others
Squamous – flat
Cuboidal- cubelike
Columnar- tall and thin
Simple squamous epithelium
S: single layer of thin, flat cells. Hexagonal
F: Diffusion, filtration and secretion
Simple cuboidal epithelium
S: single of cube-shaped cells, have microvilli or cilia
F: secretion and absorption in kidney
Simple columnar epithelium
S: single layer of tall, narrow cells
F: movement of particles by cilia in lungs
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
S: it appears stratified but it is not, consists one layer of cell
F: synthesize and secrete mucus
Stratified squamous epithelium
S: layers of cell that are cuboidal in the basal layer
F: protects against abrasion, barrier against infection
Transitional epithelium
S: stratified cells that appear cuboidal
F: accommodates fluctuations in the volume of fluid in organ

Tight junctions- bind adjacent cells together and form permeability barriers
Desmosomes- mechanical links that bind cells together
Hemidesmosomes- modified desmosomes, anchor cells to the basement membrane
Gap junctions- small channels that allow small molecules and ions to pass from one epithelial
cell to an adjacent one
Gland- structure that secretes substances onto a surface, into cavity or into the blood
 Exocrine gland- glands with ducts
Simple- ducts with no branch
Compound- ducts with many branches
Tubular- end of the branch
Acinus- glands that are sac-like structures
Alveolus- small cavity
Merocrine secretion- products are released, but no actual cellular material is lost. (digestive
enzymes by pancreas)
Apocrine secretion- products are released as fragments of gland cells (milk secretion by
mammary glands)
Holocrine secretion- shedding of entire cells (oil glands of skin)
Endocrine glands- glands have no ducts and empty the secretions into the blood. Those
secretions are called hormones.

Connective Tissue- characterized by large amounts of extracellular material that separates cells
from one another.
 Protein fibers
 Ground substances consisting non fibrous protein
 Fluid
Collagen fibers- microscopic ropes, flexible but resist stretching
Reticular fibers- very fine, short collagen fibers that branch to form a supporting network
Elastic fibers- after being stretched, they can recoil to original shape
Ground substance- shapeless background against which cells and collagen fibers can be seen
using microscope
Proteoglycans- proteins forming the branches and polysaccharides
Fibroblasts- cells that form fibers
Fibrocytes- cells that maintains fibers
Macrophages- large white blood cells that are capable of moving and ingesting foreign
substances
Mast cells- non-motile cells that release chemicals that promote inflammation
Functions of Connective Tissue
 Enclosing and separating other tissues
 Connecting tissues to one another
 Supporting and moving parts of the body
 Storing compounds
 Cushioning and insulating
 Transporting
 Protecting
Loose connective tissue- consists of relatively few protein fibers that form a lacy network, with
numerous space filled with ground cells and fluid.
 Areolar- has extracellular matrix consisting mostly of collagen fibers and a few elastic
fibers
 Adipose- tissue consists of adipocytes
 Reticular- forms the framework of lymphatic tissue
 Dense connective tissue- has a relatively large number of protein fibers that form thick
bundles and fill nearly all of the extracellular space.
Dense collagenous tissues- has an extracellular matrix consisting mostly of collagen fibers
 Dense regular- collagen fibers are oriented in the same direction
 Dense Irregular- fibers are oriented in different directions
Dense elastic connective tissue- has abundant elastic fibers, can stretch and recoil
Cartilage- composed of chondrocytes or cartilage cells, located in spaces called lacunae
 Hyaline cartilage- covers the ends of bones where they come together to form joints
 Fibrocartilage- able to withstand compression and resist tearing force
 Elastic cartilage- able to recoil to original shape when bended
Bone- hard connective tissue that consists of living cells and mineralized matrix
Blood- liquid connective tissue

Muscle Tissue- ability contract or shorten, making movement possible

 Skeletal muscle- attaches to the skeleton and enables the body to move
 Cardiac muscle- muscle of the heart, responsible for pumping blood.
Intercalated disks- important in contractions of cardiac muscle cells
 Smooth muscle- responsible for moving food digestive tract and emptying urinary
bladder

Nervous Tissue- forms the brain, spinal cord and nerves

Action potentials- ability of nervous tissue to communicate by electrical signals
Neuron- responsible for conducting action potentials
Dendrites and Axons- nerve cells processes, usually receives stimuli leading to electrical changes
Neuroglia- support cells of the nervous system: they nourish, protect and insulate neuron
Membranes- a thin sheet or layer of tissue that covers a structure or lines a cavity
Mucous membrane- secretes mucus, they line cavities that open to the outside of the body, such
as digestive, respiratory and reproductive tracts
Serous membrane- line the trunk cavities and cover the organs, secretes serous fluids
Pleural- lungs
Pericardial- around the heart
Peritoneal- abdominopelvic cavity
Synovial membrane- line the inside of joint cavities. Produces synovial fluid, which makes joint
very slippery.