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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Structure and Function

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  • What is histology?

    Histology is the study of the normal structure of tissues.

  • What are the four classes of tissues?

    The four classes of tissues are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

  • What composes the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissues?

    The ECM is composed of ground substance and three types of protein fibers: collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers.

  • What are the functions of the extracellular matrix (ECM)?

    The ECM provides strength, regulates cell activity, and anchors cells in place within tissues.

  • Name the three types of cell junctions and their functions.

    Tight junctions make spaces impermeable; desmosomes anchor cells to resist mechanical stress; gap junctions allow small substances to pass between adjacent cells.

  • What are the main functions of epithelial tissues?

    Epithelial tissues function in protection, immune defense, secretion, transport, and sensation.

  • How are epithelial cells arranged and connected?

    Epithelial cells are closely packed and joined by tight junctions and desmosomes.

  • What distinguishes simple from stratified epithelia?

    Simple epithelia have one cell layer; stratified epithelia have two or more layers.

  • What are the three shapes of epithelial cells?

    Epithelial cells may be squamous (flat), cuboidal, or columnar.

  • What is the function of simple epithelia and how does transport occur across them?

    Simple epithelia are thin and allow rapid substance crossing via paracellular or transcellular transport.

  • What are the types of stratified epithelia and their general function?

    Stratified epithelia include stratified squamous, cuboidal, columnar, and transitional epithelium, providing a protective barrier.

  • Differentiate between exocrine and endocrine glands.

    Exocrine glands release products through ducts to epithelial surfaces; endocrine glands release products into the bloodstream for distant targets.

  • What are the three modes of secretion in exocrine glands?

    Merocrine: exocytosis; holocrine: cell ruptures; apocrine: cytoplasm portion pinched off with product.

  • What are the main functions of connective tissues?

    Connective tissues function in connecting and binding, support, protection, and transport.

  • What are the two basic types of connective tissue?

    The two types are connective tissue proper and specialized connective tissue.

  • Name four types of connective tissue proper.

    Loose (areolar), dense irregular, dense regular collagenous, and dense regular elastic connective tissues.

  • What are the three types of cartilage and where are they found?

    Hyaline: ends of bones, nose, respiratory passages; fibrocartilage: joints, intervertebral discs; elastic: ear, parts of larynx.

  • What composes bone tissue and which cells build and break it down?

    Bone contains collagen fibers, ground substance, and calcium phosphate crystals. Osteoblasts build ECM; osteoclasts break down bone.

  • What is the main ECM and cell types in blood?

    Blood's ECM is plasma. Main cells are erythrocytes and leukocytes.

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

    Skeletal: voluntary, striated, multinucleated; cardiac: involuntary, striated, branched, intercalated discs; smooth: uninucleate, non-striated, found in hollow organs.

  • What are neurons and their main parts?

    Neurons are excitable cells that send nerve impulses. They have a cell body, axon (carries impulses away), and dendrites (receive impulses).

  • What are neuroglial cells?

    Neuroglial cells are the supporting cells of nervous tissue.

  • What are the functions of membranes in the body?

    Membranes anchor organs, serve as barriers, function in immunity, and secrete substances.

  • Name the types of true membranes and their secretions.

    Serous membranes secrete serous fluid; synovial membranes secrete synovial fluid.

  • What are mucous membranes and cutaneous membrane?

    Mucous membranes secrete mucus and line passages open to the outside; cutaneous membrane is the skin, composed of epidermis and dermis.

  • What is the difference between regeneration and fibrosis in tissue repair?

    Regeneration replaces damaged cells with the same type; fibrosis fills defects with dense irregular connective tissue forming scar tissue.

  • Which tissues typically regenerate and which heal by fibrosis?

    Epithelial, most connective, and smooth muscle tissues regenerate; nervous tissue generally does not. Cartilage, skeletal, and cardiac muscle heal by fibrosis.