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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Structure and Function

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  • What is a tissue in human anatomy?

    Tissue is a group of cells similar in structure that perform a common or related function.

  • What are the four basic tissue types?

    The four basic tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

  • What are the main functions of epithelial tissue?

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

  • Name the five special characteristics of epithelial tissue.

    1. Polarity
    2. Specialized contacts
    3. Supported by connective tissues
    4. Avascular but innervated
    5. Regeneration

  • What defines the polarity of epithelial cells?

    Polarity means cells have a top (apical surface) exposed to a cavity or surface and a bottom (basal surface) attached to underlying tissue via the basal lamina.

  • 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), Stratified (multiple layers).
    By shape: Squamous (flat), Cuboidal (cube-shaped), Columnar (tall column-like).

  • What is the function of simple squamous epithelium?

    Allows materials to pass by diffusion and filtration where protection is not important; found in kidney, lungs, and lining of blood vessels.

  • Where is simple cuboidal epithelium found and what is its function?

    Found in kidney tubules and gland ducts; functions in secretion and absorption.

  • Describe the simple columnar epithelium and its function.

    Single layer of tall cells, often with microvilli or cilia; involved in absorption and secretion of mucus and enzymes; found in digestive tract and uterine tubes.

  • What is pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

    Single layer of cells of varying heights that appears stratified; often ciliated and involved in mucus secretion and movement; found in respiratory tract.

  • What is the main role of stratified epithelial tissues?

    Protection; they have two or more layers and regenerate from basal cells.

  • What is transitional epithelium and where is it found?

    Stratified epithelium that can stretch and change shape; found lining urinary organs like bladder and ureters.

  • How are glands classified in epithelial tissue?

    By site of product release: endocrine (ductless, secrete hormones internally) and exocrine (secrete onto surfaces or cavities via ducts).

  • What are unicellular exocrine glands and their function?

    Single-celled glands like goblet cells that produce mucin to form mucus for protection and lubrication.

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

    Merocrine (exocytosis), holocrine (cell ruptures), and apocrine (apex of cell pinches off).

  • What are the three main elements of connective tissue?

    Ground substance, fibers, and cells; ground substance and fibers form the extracellular matrix.

  • Name the three types of connective tissue fibers and their functions.

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

  • What are the main classes of connective tissue?

    Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone, and blood.

  • What is the function of areolar connective tissue?

    Supports and binds other tissues, acts as packing material, holds interstitial fluid, and contains fibroblasts, macrophages, and fat cells.

  • Describe adipose tissue and its functions.

    Loose connective tissue with closely packed adipocytes; stores energy, insulates, and cushions organs.

  • What distinguishes dense regular connective tissue?

    Closely packed collagen fibers aligned parallel to resist tension in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.

  • What is the difference between dense regular and dense irregular connective tissue?

    Dense regular has parallel collagen fibers for unidirectional tension; dense irregular has irregularly arranged fibers to resist tension from multiple directions.

  • What are the three types of cartilage and their characteristics?

    Hyaline (most abundant, glassy), elastic (more elastic fibers, found in ear), fibrocartilage (strong, found in intervertebral discs).

  • What are the main functions of bone tissue?

    Supports and protects body structures, stores fat, synthesizes blood cells, and is highly vascularized.

  • Why is blood considered a connective tissue?

    It consists of cells suspended in a fluid matrix (plasma) and functions in transport of nutrients, wastes, and gases.

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

    Skeletal (voluntary, striated, multinucleated), cardiac (involuntary, striated, branched, intercalated discs), smooth (involuntary, no striations, spindle-shaped).

  • What are the two main cell types in nervous tissue?

    Neurons (generate and conduct impulses) and supporting cells (insulate and protect neurons).

  • What are the three types of covering and lining membranes?

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

  • What are the two major ways tissue repair occurs?

    Regeneration (replacement with same tissue) and fibrosis (replacement with connective tissue scar).