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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 prevent passage of macromolecules between cells.
    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 allow rapid substance crossing via paracellular or transcellular transport.

  • What is unique about ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

    It appears stratified but consists of a single layer of cells with cilia.

  • What are the two types of glands and their secretion methods?

    Exocrine glands release products through ducts to epithelial surfaces.
    Endocrine glands release products into the bloodstream.

  • What are the three modes of exocrine gland secretion?

    Merocrine: exocytosis;
    Holocrine: cell ruptures;
    Apocrine: portion of cytoplasm 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?

    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 their locations?

    Hyaline cartilage: ends of bones, nose, ribs;
    Fibrocartilage: joints, intervertebral discs;
    Elastic cartilage: 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 ECM of blood and its main cell types?

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

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

    Skeletal muscle: voluntary, striated, multinucleated;
    Cardiac muscle: involuntary, striated, branched, with intercalated discs;
    Smooth muscle: involuntary, uninucleate, non-striated.

  • What are neurons and neuroglial cells?

    Neurons are excitable cells that send and receive nerve impulses.
    Neuroglial cells support nervous tissue.

  • 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?

    Regenerate: epithelial, most connective, smooth muscle.
    Fibrosis: cartilage, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, nervous tissue generally does not regenerate.

  • What are serous, synovial, mucous, and cutaneous membranes?

    Serous membranes secrete serous fluid in body cavities.
    Synovial membranes secrete synovial fluid in joint cavities.
    Mucous membranes secrete mucus lining passages open to outside.
    Cutaneous membrane is the skin.