Chapter 3: Cells and Tissue Vocabulary

Nervous Tissue

A highly differentiated tissue composed of nerve cells, nerve fibers, dendrites, and neuroglia.

Cuboidal

An epithelial cell that shaped like a cube. Also referred to as a polyhedral shape.

Neuroglia

Neuroglia, also called glial cells, or simply glia are non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Solute

The component of a solution that changes its state in forming the solution or the component that is not present in excess; the substance that is dissolved in another substance

Goblet Cells

The main role of goblet cells is to secrete mucus in order to protect the mucous membranes where they are found. Goblet cells accomplish this by secreting mucins, large glycoproteins formed mostly by carbohydrates.

Diffusion

The movement of atoms or molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Atoms and small molecules can move across a cell membrane.

Cytokinesis

The physical process of cell division, which divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells. It occurs concurrently with two types of nuclear division called mitosis and meiosis, which occur in animal cells.

Hyaline

any of several translucent nitrogenous substances related to chitin, found especially around cells, and readily stained by eosin.

Gene Translation

he process in which ribosomes in a cell's cytoplasm create proteins, following transcription of DNA to RNA in the cell's nucleus.

Mast

A granulocyte found in connective tissue whose normal function is unknown but that is frequently injured during allergic reactions. When a mast cell is injured, it releases strong chemicals, including histamine, into the tissues and blood.

Passive Transport

A kind of transport by which ions or molecules move along a concentration gradient, which means movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

Neuron

A nerve cell that receives and sends electrical signals over long distances within the body. A neuron receives electrical input signals from sensory cells (called sensory neurons) and from other neurons.

Gene

A portion of a DNA molecule that serves as the basic unit of heredity. They control the characteristics that an offspring will have by transmitting information in the sequence of nucleotides on short sections of DNA.

Organelles

An organelle is a structure in a cell with a specific function. The nucleus, the mitochondrion, the chloroplast, the Golgi apparatus, the lysosome, and the endoplasmic reticulum are all examples of organelles.

Adipose Tissue

Connective tissue in which fat is stored and which has the cells distended by droplets of fat.

Hydrophobic

Doesn't mix well, or repels water.

Hypotonic

Having less than normal tone or tension, as of muscles or arteries. Having a lower osmotic pressure than a reference solution.

Epithelial

Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.

Cilia

Minute hairlike organelles, identical in structure to flagella, that line the surfaces of certain cells and beat in rhythmic waves, providing locomotion to ciliate protozoans and moving liquids along internal epithelial tissue in animals.

Vascular

Relating to the vessels of the body, especially the arteries and veins, that carry blood and lymph. Relating to or having xylem and phloem, plant tissues highly specialized for carrying water, dissolved nutrients, and food from one part of a plant to another.

Columnar

Something shaped like a column or pillar. This can be viewed on the cellular level. Similar to a line.

Squamous

Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales, and are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Fibroblasts

The definition of a fibroblast is a cell that forms connective tissue fibers. An example of a fibroblast are the cells that connect tissues during a child's growth spurt.

Active Transport

The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane in the direction opposite that of diffusion, that is, from an area of lower concentration to one of higher concentration. It requires the assistance of a type of protein called a carrier protein, using energy supplied by ATP.

Stratified

The process by which materials form or are deposited in layers, as in sedimentary rocks and some igneous rocks.

Chromatin

The substance distributed in the nucleus of a cell that condenses to form chromosomes during cell division. It consists mainly of DNA and proteins called histones.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue composed of bundles of elongated cells capable of contraction and relaxation to produce movement in an organ or part.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs, typically having relatively few cells embedded in an amorphous matrix, often with collagen or other fibers, and including cartilaginous, fatty, and elastic tissues.

Adenosine Triphosphate

a compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to three phosphate groups, present in all living tissue. The breakage of one phosphate linkage (to form adenosine diphosphate, ADP ) provides energy for physiological processes such as muscular contraction.

Macrophage

a phagocytic tissue cell of the immune system that may be fixed or freely motile, is derived from a monocyte, functions in the destruction of foreign antigens (as bacteria and viruses), and serves as an antigen-presenting cell

Centrioles

one of a pair of cellular organelles that occur especially in animals, are found near the nucleus, function in the formation of the spindle apparatus during cell division, and consist of a cylinder with nine microtubules arranged peripherally in a circle.

Skeletal Tissue

one of three major muscle types, the others being cardiac muscle and smooth muscle. It is a form of striated muscle tissue which is under the 'voluntary' control of the somatic nervous system.

Microvilli

projection of a tissue, cell, or cell organelle; especially : any of the fingerlike outward projections of some cell surfaces