Chapter 5/ Chapter 6

Elastic cartilage

A cartilage in which the cells are surrounded by a territorial capsular matrix outside of which is an interterritorial matrix containing elastic fibre networks in addition to the collagen fibres and ground substance.

Chondroblasts

A cell actively producing the components of the extracellular matrix, and may form into a chondrocyte when it is trapped in the matrix it produced

Chondrocytes

A cell occupying a lacuna in the extracellular matrix of the cartilage.

Reticular tissue

A connective tissue that chiefly consists of a network of reticular fibers, forming a labyrinth-like stroma to support free blood cells (large lymphocytes) in many lymphoid organs.

Adipose tissue

A connective tissue that contains adipocytes (fat cells). The tissue stores energy in the form of fat within the adipocytes. The tissue is also used for cushioning, thermal insulation of vital organs, lubrication (chiefly in the pericardium), and producing hormones (such as leptin).

Transverse section

A cross-section obtained by slicing, actually or through imaging techniques, the body or any part of the body structure, in a horizontal plane, i.e., a plane that intersects the longitudinal axis at a angle.

Oblique section

A diagonal cross section attained by slicing, actually or through imaging techniques, the body or any part of the body or anatomic structure, in any plane that does not parallel the longitudinal axis or intersect it at a right angle, that is, that is neither longitudinal (vertical) nor transverse (horizontal).

Exocrine gland

A gland that secretes its products through ducts or canals, such as sweatglands or mammary glands.

Proteoglycan

A high molecular weight complex of protein and polysaccharide, characteristic of structural tissues of vertebrates, such as bone and cartilage, but also present on cell surfaces. Important in determining viscoelastic properties of joints and other structures subject to mechanical deformation. Glycosaminoglycans (gAGs), the polysaccharide units in proteoglycans, are polymers of acidic disaccharides containing derivatives of the amino sugars glucosamine or galactosamine.

Fibrocartilage

A kind of cartilage with a fibrous matrix and approaching fibrous connective tissue in structure. Fibrocartilaginous.

Axon

A long process of a neuron, that carries efferent (outgoing) action potentials from the cell body towards target cells.

Platelets

A particle found in the bloodstream that binds to fibrinogen at the site of a wound to begin the blood clotting process. Platelets are formed in bone marrow, where they arise from cells called megakaryocytes.

Longitudinal section

A section done by a plane along the long axis of a structure.

Osteocytes

A stellate, non-dividing osteoblast embedded in mature bony tissue

Cross section

A transverse cut through a structure or tissue. The opposite of a cross-section is a longitudinal section. By analogy, a study may be cross-sectional or longitudinal.

Dense connective tissue

A type of connective tissue that contains collagen fibers, and functions by providing strong connection between different tissues.

Loose connective tissue

A type of connective tissue that holds organs and epithelia in place, and has a variety of proteinaceous fibers, including collagen and elastin. It also surrounds the blood vessels and nerves. The cells of this tissue are losely separated in the rich extracellular matrix.

Reticular fibers

A type of fiber in connective tissue composed of type III collagen and which forms an intricate interstitial network with other similar fibers to serve as a supporting mesh in soft tissues such as liver and bone marrow.

Elastic fibers

A type of fiber that is thick and yellowish, and composed primarily of elastin. It is distinguished from other connective tissue fibers for its great elasticity. It can stretch up to one and a half times their length then snap back to its original length when relaxed.

Collagenous fibers

A type of fiber which is characteristically white and composed of collagen and typically arranged in branching bundles of indefinite length.

Desmosome

A type of junction that attaches one cell to its neighbor. One of a number of differentiated regions which occur, for example, where the cytoplasmic membranes of adjacent epithelial cells are closely apposed. It consists of a circular region of each membrane together with associated intracellular microfilaments and an intercellular material which may include, for example, mucopolysaccharides.

Compact bone

A type of osseous tissue consisting of closely packed osteons or haversian systems, and forms the extremely hard exterior of bones.

Skeletal muscle

A voluntary, striated (vertebrate) muscle that is associated with the skeleton, and thus move parts of the skeletal system

Atrophy

A wasting Away, a diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, organ or part.

Intercalated discs

An electron dense junctional complex, at the end to end contacts of cardiac muscle cells, that contains gap junctions and desmosomes. most of the disc is formed of a convoluted fascia adherens type of junction into which the actin filaments of the terminal sarcomeres insert (they are therefore equivalent to half Z bands), desmosomes are also present. The lateral portion of the stepped disc contains gap junctions that couple the cells electrically and thus coordinate the contraction.

Smooth muscle

An involuntary, non-striated type of (vertebrate) muscle that are capable of slow rhythmic involuntary contractions.

Leukocytes

Any of the blood cells that lack hemoglobin, colourless and with nucleus. Its major function involves the body's immune system, protecting the body against invading microorganisms and foreign particles.

Myoctyes

Any of the long, tubular mature contractile cells that make up the muscle tissue

Haversian canals

Any of the small vascular canals at the center of the osteon, running longitudinally to the length of a bone, and containing blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics.

Hyaline cartilage

Cartilage having a frosted glass appearance, with interstitial substance containing fine type II collagen fibres obscured by the ground substance; in adult cartilage, the cells are present in isogenous groups.

Soma

Cell body

Keratinized

Change or become changed into a form containing keratin.

Gap junction

Connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current.

Gangrene

Death of tissue, usually in considerable mass and generally associated with loss of vascular (nutritive) supply and followed by bacterial invasion and putrefaction.

Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes contain hemoglobin (the reddish color is due to the hemoglobin) and transports oxygen and co2 in the blood back and forth from tissues and the lungs. More commonly known as a red blood cell (RBCs).

Plasma

Fluid through which cellular components of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid are suspended.

Dense regular connective tissue

Found in tendons and ligaments.

Glycosaminoglycan

Glycosaminoglycans are sugar polymers consisting of uronic acids and amino sugars.

Matrix

Ground substance in which things are embedded or that fills a space (as for example the space within the mitochondrion). most common usage is for a loose meshwork within which cells are embedded (e.g. Extracellular matrix), although it may also be used of filters or absorbent material.

Neoplasia

Literally new growth, usually refers to abnormal new growth and thus means the same as tumour, which may be benign or malignant.

Non-keratinized

Not keratinous.

Dendrites

One of the threadlike extensions of the cytoplasm of a neuron. In unipolar and bipolar neurons, they resemble axons structurally, but typically, as in multipolar neurons, they branch into treelike processes. Dendrites comprise most of the receptive surfaces of a neuron.

Endocrine gland

Organs or gland that secrete regulatory substances directly into the circulation and not through a duct.

Necrosis

Premature death of cells in a living tissue or organ caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death as signalled by the nuclei in normally functioning human and animal cells when age or state of cell health and condition dictates.

Metaplasia

Reversible change from one adult cell type to another.

Hyperplasia

The abnormal multiplication or increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in a tissue.

Ground substance

The amorphous, gel-like, noncellular component of the extracellular matrix where the fibers and cells of connective tissue are embedded.

Granulation tissue

The connective tissue forming on major wounds during tissue repair. It consists largely of new blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, myofibroblasts, and a provisional extracellular matrix.

Reticular layer

The deeper layer of the dermis formed of interlacing fasciculi of white fibrous tissue

Hypertrophy

The enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part due to an increase in size of its constituent cells.

Infarction

The formation of an infarct.

Fibrosis

The formation of fibrous tissue, fibroid or fibrous degeneration.

Cardiac muscle

The heart muscle of the vertebrates.

Osseous tissue

The major structural and supportive connective tissue from which bones are made.

Regeneration

The natural renewal of a structure, as of a lost tissue or part.

Spongy bone

The osseous tissue that fills the interior or cavity of bones with a latticework of small spicules or flat pieces of mineralized bars (trabeculae) and interstices containing bone marrow or fat.

Histology

The study of cells and tissue on the microscopic level.

Papillary layer

The superficial layer of the dermis raised into papillae that fit into corresponding depressions on the inner surface of the epidermis

Dermal papillae

The superficial projections of the dermis (corium) that interdigitate with recesses in the overlying epidermis; they contain vascular loops and specialized nerve endings and are arranged in ridgelike lines best developed in the hand and foot.

Eschar

This is a dry scab that forms on skin that has been burned or exposed to corrosive agents.

Decubitus ulcer

a chronic ulcer that appears in pressure areas in debilitated patients confined to bed or otherwise immobilised, due to a circulatory defect from the enhanced tissue pressure in high-contact areas, often occurring over a bony prominence

Basement membrane

extracellular matrix characteristically found under epithelial cells. There are two distinct layers: the basal lamina, immediately adjacent to the cells, is a product of the epithelial cells themselves and contains collagen type iv and the reticular lamina is produced by fibroblasts of the underlying connective tissue and contains fibrillar collagen.

Debridement

the removal of necrotic, infected or foreign material from a wound.

Tight junction

the tight junctions is a belt shaped and expands around the apex of columnar epithelial cells. at low magnification of the electron microscope the tight junction appear to be fused but in higher magnification electron micrographs revails that the membrane are in contact only in the point of tight junctions, function the tight junctions not only maintain the firm between two adjacent cells but also helps as barrier for the moment of certains molecules from adjacent cells.