Lab 1: Histology and Integumentary System Flashcards
define histology
the study of tissues
define tissues
a group a similarly structured cells that work together to accomplish a specific function
what are the four major tissue categories
- epithelial
- connective
- muscle
- nervous
how are specimens for histology prepared
- fixed/preserved
- thinly sectioned
- stained to improve contrast
what is the difference between acid stains and basic stains
- acid stains have negatively charged dyes
- basic stains have positively charged dyes
what do dyes bind to
oppositely charged macromolecules
define artifact
- a minor distortion in sectioned tissues that is only present due to the many steps needed to produce a histology slide
- should not be confused with the actual structure of preserved tissue
what does epithelial tissue do
- lines and covers organs, as well as their internal passageways
- creates boundaries between different environments
- forms glands
what are the strong intercellular connections between epithelial cells formed by
- tight junctions
- desmosomes
describe tight junctions
- connections between adjacent cells
- prevents fluid from moving between the cells
describe desmosomes
- connections between adjacent cells
- contains proteins
- allows cells to mechanically hold on to each other, providing mutual reinforcement
what are the functions of epithelia
- filtration
- absorption
- protection
- secretion
- excretion
- sensory reception
define the free/apical surface of epithelium
surface where cells are exposed to external environment or internal passageway/cavity
how do cells on the free/apical surface of epithelium obtain nutrients
diffusion of substances from connective tissue underlying the epithelia
define the basal lamina of epithelium
- where epithelium is attached to the body
- located between the epithelium and the connective tissue layer
what is the composition of basal lamina of epithilium
- glycoprotein secretions from the epithelial cells
- collagen fibers
what is the function of the basal lamina
- filter at the base of the epithelium
- forms a scaffold for wound repair
how are epithelia named
- shape
- number of cell layers
define simple epithelium
epithelium with only one layer of epithelial cells
what are the functions of simple epithelia
- diffusion
- absorption
- filtration
- secretion
what is the function of goblet cells
protect epithelia at the free surface by secreting mucus that coats the cell
describe the two different attachments on epithelial cells on the apical surface
- microvilli: increase surface area for absorption
- cilia: motile hair-like projections that sweep substances across the apical surface
define stratified epithelia
epithelium with more than one layer of epithelial cells
where is stratified epithelia found
- areas exposed to abrasion and friction
- body surface, upper digestive tract
what is the main function of stratified epithelia
protection
when stratified epithelium contains more than one type/shape of epithelial cell, how do you determine the classification of the tissue
the type of epithelial cell at the free surface determines the classification of the tissue
describe how stratified epithelia regenerates
regenerates from basal cells that divide and then move out to replace older cells near the apical border
what is the most common stratified epithelium
stratified squamous epithelium
what happens to cells on the apical surface of stratified epithelium and why
they often atrophy and flatten because they are furthest from the blood supply
how many layers thick is stratified cuboidal epithelium typically
two cells thick
where is stratified cuboidal epithelium found
- ducts of sweat glands
- mammary glands
where is stratified columnar epithelium found
- parts of the male urethra
- the pharynx
- lining of some glandular ducts
describe a squamous-shaped cell
- flattened shape
- nucleus appears flattened
describe a cuboidal-shaped cell
- cube shaped
- round nucleus
describe a columnar-shaped cell
- rectangle shaped, like a column
- oblong or round nucleus
what are the 6 characteristics that distinguish epithelial tissue from other tissue types
- regeneration
- polarity
- cellularity and specialized contacts
- supported by connective tissue
- avascularity
- innervated
why is cellular regeneration important for epithelial cells
many epithelia are subjected to friction or exposed to hostile/caustic substances
describe the concept of polarity in epithelial tissue
- there are differences in structure and function between the apical and basal surface of epithelia
- apical surfaces also differ: microvilli, smooth, cilia
describe a brush border
- microvilli on the apical surface of epithelial tissue are so dense they appear fuzzy
- often seen in secretory or absorbing tissues
how are epithelial cells attached to connective tissue
basement membrane
describe the basement membrane
- attaches epithelial tissue to connective tissue
- helps epithelia resist tearing and stretching
- reinforces structural integrity
- creates a boundary
- made up of basal lamina and reticular lamina
describe reticular lamina
- made of collagen fibers
- secreted by connective tissue
- part of the basement membrane
describe the significance of the basement membrane in cancer
cancers of the epithelial tissue cannot become metastatic until they develop a mechanism to break through the basement membrane
what is the only type of epithelia that is vascular
glandular epithelial tissue
define innervated
supplied by nerve fibers for regulation
what tissue has the highest regeneration capacity and what has the lowest
- highest regeneration: epithelial tissue
- lowest regeneration: nervous tissue
describe simple squamous epithelium
- thin and often permeable
- single layer of flattened cells with disc shaped nuclei and sparse cytoplasm
what is the function of simple squamous epithelium
- filtration and diffusion
- not protective
- secretes lubricating substances in serosae (tissue lining of a body cavity or outer lining of an organ)
locations of simple squamous epithelia
- kidney glomeruli
- air sacs of lungs
- lining of heart, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels
- lining of ventral body cavity
what are the two specific types of simple squamous epithelia
- endothelium
- mesothelium
describe endothelium
- simple squamous epithelia
- provides slick and friction-reducing lining in hollow organs that transmit body fluids (lymph, blood)
describe mesothelium
- simple squamous epithelia
- found in serous membranes lining the ventral body cavity and covering its organs
describe simple cuboidal epithelium
- single layer of cube-like cells
- large, spherical central nuclei
what is the function of simple cuboidal epithelium
secretion and absorption
locations of simple cuboidal epithelium
- kidney tubules
- ducts and secretory portions of small glands
- ovary surface
describe simple columnar epithelium
- single layer of tall cells
- round to oval nuclei
- some cells have cilia
- layer may contain mucus-secreting unicellular glands (goblet cells)
function of simple columnar epithelium
- absorption
- secretion of mucus, enzymes, and other substances
- ciliated type propels mucus or reproductive cells by ciliary action
locations of simple columnar epithelium
- non-ciliated type lines most of the digestive tract (stomach to anal canal), gallbladder, and excretory ducts of some glands
- ciliated variety lines small bronchi, uterine tubes, and some regions of the uterus
describe keratinized epithelial cells
cells manufacture the protein keratin which toughens the cells as they die creating a dry protective barrier against abrasion, chemical exposure, and friction
describe stratified squamous epitheium
- thick membrane composed of several layers
- basal cells are cuboidal or columnar and metabolically active white surface cells are squamous
- surface cells in the keratinized type are full of keratin and dead
function of stratified squamous epithelium
protect underlying tissues in areas subjected to abrasion
locations of stratified squamous epithelium
- keratinized: epidermis of the skin
- non-keratinized: moist linings of the esophagus, mouth, and vagina
describe pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
- single layer of cells of differing heights
- some cells don’t reach the free surface, but all cells touch the basal lamina
- nuclei seen at different levels
- may contain mucus-secreting cells (goblet cells)
- may bear cilia
function of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
- secretion, particularly of mucus
- propulsion of mucus by ciliary action
locations of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
- non-ciliated: male’s sperm-carrying ducts and ducts of large glands
- ciliated: lining nasal cavity, trachea, and bronchi
describe transitional epithelium
- resembles both stratified squamous and stratified cuboidal
- basal cells are cuboidal or columnar, surface cells dome-shaped or squamous-like
- not all cells touch the basal lamina
function of transitional epithelium
stretches readily and permits distension of certain hollow organs
locations of transitional epithelium
- organs that must stretch and shrink
- lines uterus, urinary bladder, and part of the urethra
what are the main functions of connective tissue
- provides the body with structural support and means of joining structural components to one another
- protection
- storing energy reserves
- insulating the body
- transporting substances throughout the body
what creates all connective tissues
mesenchyme, an embryonic tissue
describe the general composition of connective tissue
- mostly non-cellular
- cells sparsely spread throughout extracellular matrix
describe the general composition of the extracellular matrix in connective tissue
protein fibers and a ground substance secreted by cells in connective tissue
describe collagen fibers in the ground substance of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue
- strongest of the fibers
- made of the protein collagen
- made of many cross-linked fibrils
describe elastic fibers in the ground substance of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue
- made of the protein elastin
- forms in branching network int he extracellular matrix to provide strength and recoil
describe reticular fibers in the ground substance of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue
- short and fine
- made of the protein collagen
- form fuzzy nets with more give than that of collagen fibers
- less secreted as we age, leading to brittle bones and wrinkly skin
what are the three groups of connective tissue
- connective tissue proper
- fluid connective tissue
- supporting connective tissue
describe general characteristics of connective tissue proper
- thick liquid matrix
- variety of cell types
- divided into two groups: loose and dense
what do fibroblasts do in connective tissue proper
stationary cells that secrete proteins to form fibers
what do macrophages do in connective tissue proper
- patrol tissues and are mobilized during an infection or injury
- migrate to the site of the disturbance and phagocytize damaged tissue cells and microbes
what do mast cells do in connective tissue proper
- detect foreign microorganisms and initiate immune response
- release histamine that causes inflammatory response
- secrete enzymes such as heparin and proteases
what do adipocytes do in connective tissue proper
fat cells containing vacuoles for lipid storage
what are the three groups of loose connective tissues
- areolar
- adipose
- reticular
what are the two types of fibers that make up dense connective tissue
- protein fibers assembled into thick bundles of collagen
- elastic fibers with widely scattered cells
what are the two types of dense connective tissue
- dense regular
- dense irregular