Tissues

reticular connective tissue

consists of a delicate network of interwoven reticular fibers associated with reticular cells, which resemble fibroblasts. Reticular tissue is limited to certain sites: It forms the stroma

Hyperplasia

certain body tissues or organs may enlarge because there is some local irritant or condition that stimulates the cells

dense connective tissue

collagen fibers are the main matrix element. Crowded between the collagen fibers are rows of fibroblasts that manufacture the building blocks of the fibers. Dense connective tissue forms strong, ropelike structures such as tendons and ligaments. Also makes up the lower layers of the skin, where it is arranged in sheets

stratified columnar epithelium

columnar cells, but its basal cells vary in size and shape. Fairly rare in the body, found mainly in the ducts of large glands

bone

composed of osteocytes sitting in cavities called lacunae. Surrounded by layers of a very hard matrix that contains calcium salts in addition to large numbers of collagen fibers. Because of its rocklike hardness, bone has an exceptional ability to protect and support other body organs

blood

considered a connective tissue because it consists of blood cells surrounded by a nonliving, fluid matrix called blood plasma. The "fibers" of blood are soluble proteins that become visible only during blood clotting. Still, blood is quite atypical as connective tissues go. Blood is the transport vehicle for the cardiovascular system, carrying nutrients, wastes, respiratory gases, white blood cells, and many other substances throughout the body

basement membrane

a structureless material secreted by both the epithelial cells and the connective tissue cells that abut the epithelium

stratified epithelium

(more than one cell layer) Being considerably more durable than the simple epithelia, these epithelia function primarily in protection

simple ethelium

(one layer of cells) most concerned with absorption, secretion, and filtration. Because simple epithelia are usually very thin, protection is not one of their specialties

nervous tissue

A body tissue that carries electrical messages back and forth between the brain and every other part of the body.

muscle tissue

A body tissue that contracts or shortens, making body parts move.

elastic cartilage

cartilage with abundant elastic fibers; more flexible than hyaline cartilage

connective tissue

A primary tissue; connects body parts. It is the most abundant and widely distributed of the tissue types. Form and function vary extensively. Functions include support, storage, and protection. Involved in protecting, supporting, and binding together other body tissues

gland

An organ that produces and releases chemicals either through ducts or into the bloodstream.

Ligaments

Connect bone to bone

extracellular matrix

Connective tissues are made up of many different types of cells plus varying amounts of a nonliving substance found outside the cells. Consist of ground substance and fibers that separate the living cells

Fibrocartilage

Highly compressible cartilage, forms the cushion-like disks between the vertebrae of the spinal column

smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle found inside many internal organs of the body

Peristalsis

Involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keep food moving along in one direction through the digestive system.

hyaline cartilage

Most widespread cartilage, which has abundant collagen fibers hidden by a rubbery matrix with a glassy, blue-white appearance. It forms the trachea, or windpipe, attaches the ribs to the breastbone, and covers bone ends at joints

skeletal muscle tissue

Voluntary muscle pulls on bones and causes body movements.

blood plasma

The pale yellow fluid portion of whole blood that consists of water and its dissolved constituents including, sugars, lipids, metabolic waste products, amino acids, hormones, and vitamins.

adipose tissue

Tissue that stores fat.

goblet cells

a column-shaped cell found in the respiratory and intestinal tracts, which secretes the main component of mucus.

inflammation

a localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues

neurons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Secretion

a process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell, gland, or organ for a particular function in the organism or for excretion.

adipose tissue

an areolar tissue in which adipose (fat) cells predominate. A glistening droplet of oil occupies most of a fat cell's volume and compresses the nucleus, displacing it to one side

tendons

attach muscle to bone

Oscteocytes

bone cells

Chondrocytes

cartilage cells

endocrine glands

ductless glands that empty their hormonal products directly into the blood. Examples: thyroid, adrenals, and pituitary

apical surface

exposed to the body's exterior or to the cavity of an internal organ. The exposed surfaces of some epithelia are slick and smooth, but others exhibit cell surface modifications, such as microvilli or cilia

stroma

fluid portion of the chloroplast; outside of the thylakoids

seroud membranes

the slick membranes that line the ventral body cavity and cover the organs in that cavity

cardiac muscle

found only in the heart wall. As it contracts, the heart acts as a pump to propel blood through the blood vessels. Like skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle has striations, but cardiac cells have only a single nucleus and are relatively short, branching cells that fit tightly together at junctions called intercalated discs

exocrine glands

glands that have ducts through which their secretions are carried to a body surface. Include the sweat and oil glands, liver, and pancreas, are both internal and external

Hyelin

glass

neuroglia

group of supporting cells which insulate, support, and protect the delicate neurons in the structures of the nervous system—the brain, spinal cord, and nerves

transitional epithelium

highly modified stratified squamous epithelium that forms the lining of only a few organs—the urinary bladder, the ureters, and part of the urethra. As part of the urinary system, all of these organs are subject to considerable stretching

fibrosis

involves repair by dense connective tissue, that is, by the formation of scar tissue. Occurrence depends on the type of tissue damaged and the severity of the injury. Generally speaking, clean cuts heal much more successfully than ragged tears of the tissue

muscle fibers

long, slender cells that make up muscles

osseus

made of bone; bony The hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseus tissue fills in the gap.

simple columnar epithelium

made up of a single layer of tall cells that fit closely together. Lines the entire length of the digestive tract from the stomach to the anus

mucous membrane (mucosa)

membrane that forms the linings of body cavities open to the exterior (digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts)

stratified squamous epithelium

most common stratified epithelium in the body. It usually consists of many cell layers. The cells at the free edge are squamous cells, whereas those close to the basement membrane are cuboidal or columnar. Stratified squamous epithelium is found in sites that receive a good deal of abuse or friction, such as the surface of the skin, the mouth, and the esophagus

involuntary control

not under conscious control

simple cuboidal epithelium

one layer of cuboidal cells resting on a basement membrane, is common in glands and their associated small tubes called ducts. It also forms the walls of the kidney tubules and covers the surface of the ovaries

intercalated discs

specialized connections between myocardial cells containing gap junctions and desmosomes

simple squamous epithelium

single layer of thin squamous cells resting on a basement membrane. The cells fit closely together. This type of epithelium usually forms membranes where filtration or exchange of substances by rapid diffusion occurs. Simple squamous epithelium is in the air sacs of the lungs and forms the walls of capillaries, where nutrients and gases pass between the blood in the capillaries and the interstitial fluid

Cartilage

soft, connective tissue on the ends of some bones

loose connective tissue

softer and have more cells and fewer fibers than any other connective tissue type except blood. There are three main types: areolar, adipose, and reticular

epithelial tissue

the lining, covering, and glandular tissue of the body. Function are protection, absorption, filtration, and secretion

areolar connective tissue

the most widely distributed connective tissue variety in the body, is a soft, pliable, "cobwebby" tissue that cushions and protects the body organs it wraps. It functions as a universal packing tissue and connective tissue "glue" because it helps to hold the internal organs together and in their proper positions. A soft layer of areolar connective tissue called the lamina propria underlies all mucous membranes. Its fluid matrix contains all types of fibers, which form a loose network. In fact, when viewed through a microscope, most of the matrix appears to be empty space, which explains the name of this tissue type

Regeneration

the replacement of destroyed tissue by the same kind of cells. Occurrence depends on the type of tissue damaged and the severity of the injury

Alveoli

tiny sacs of lung tissue specialized for the movement of gases between air and blood

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

tissue that consists of a single layer of irregularly shaped and sized cells that give the appearance of multiple layers; found in ducts of certain glands and the upper respiratory tract

stratified cuboidal epithelium

typically has just two cell layers with (at least) the surface cells being cuboidal in shape. Fairly rare in the body, found mainly in the ducts of large glands