Animal Tissue AP Bio

Cardiac Tissue

extremely specialized form of muscle tissue that has evolved to pump blood throughout the body

Connective tissue

Animal tissue that functions mainly to bind and support other tissues, having a sparse population of cells scattered through an extracellular matrix, which they produce.

Loose connective

the most widespread connective tissue in the vertebrate body. It binds epithelia to underlying tissues and functions as packing material, holding organs in place.

Nervous tissue

Tissue made up of neurons and supportive cells.

Fibrous connective

A dense tissue with large numbers of collagenous fibers organized into parallel bundles. This is the dominant tissue in tendons and ligaments.

Cartilage

A flexible connective tissue consisting of living cells and collagenous fibers embedded in a rubbery matrix.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the fundamental structural and functional unit of the nervous system, specialized for carrying signals from one location in the body to another.

Negative feedback

A primary mechanism of homeostasis, whereby a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counter- acts the initial change. Negative feedback is a common control mechanism in which a chemical reaction, metabolic pathway, or hormone-secreting gland is inhibited by the products of the reac- tion, pathway, or gland. As the concentration of the products builds up, the product molecules themselves inhibit the process that produced them.

Epithelial tissue

A sheet of tightly packed cells lining organs, body cavities, and external surfaces; also called epithelium.

Bone

A type of connective tissue consisting of living cells held in a rigid matrix of collagen fibers embedded in calcium salts .

Adipose tissue

A type of connective tissue whose cells contain fat.

Blood

A type of connective tissue with a fluid matrix called plasma in which red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.

Smooth muscle

A type of muscle lacking striations; responsible for involuntary body activities.

Skeletal tissue

A type of striated muscle attached to the skeleton; generally responsible for voluntary movements of the body.

Immune system

An animal body's system of defenses against agents that cause disease.

Interstitial fluid

An aqueous solution that surrounds body cells and through which materials pass back and forth between the blood and the body tissues.

Urinary system

The organ system that forms and excretes urine while regulating the amount of water and ions in the body fluids.

Respiratory system

The organ system that functions in exchanging gases with the environment. It supplies the blood with O2 and disposes of CO2.

Muscular system

The organ system that includes all the skeletal muscles in the body. (Cardiac muscle and smooth muscle are components of other organ systems.)

Skeletal system

The organ system that provides body support and protects body organs, such as the brain, heart, and lungs.

Circulatory system

The organ system that transports materials such as nutrients, O2, and hormones to body cells and transports CO2 and other wastes from body cells.

Reproductive system

The reproductive system or genital system is a system of sex organs within an organism which work together for the purpose of sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system.

Homeostasis

The steady state of body function- ing; a state of equilibrium characterized by a dynamic interplay between outside forces that tend to change an organism's internal environment and the internal control mechanisms that oppose such changes.

Lymphatic system

The vertebrate organ system through which lymph circulates; includes lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and the spleen. The lymphatic system helps remove toxins and pathogens from the blood and interstitial fluid and returns fluid and solutes from the interstitial fluid to the circulatory system.

Muscle tissue

Tissue consisting of long muscle cells that can con- tract, either on its own or when stimulated by nerve impulses; the most abundant tissue in a typical animal. See skeletal muscle; cardiac muscle; smooth muscle.

Endocrine system

the organ system consisting of ductless glands that secrete hormones and the molecular receptors on or in target cells that respond to the hormones. The endocrine system cooperates with the nervous system in regulating body functions and maintaining homeostasis.

Integumentary system

the organ system consisting of the skin and its derivatives, such as hair and nails in mammals. The integumentary system helps protect the body from drying out, mechanical injury, and infection.

Digestive system

the organ system involved in ingestion and digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes.

Nervous system

the organ system that forms a communication and coordination network between all parts of an animal's body.