MEC322: Tissues

Question 1

Define tissue

Answer 1

groups of cells with similar structure and function

Question 2

What are the four primary types of tissue?

Answer 2

Epithelial tissue (epithelium) (cover)
Connective tissue (compose)
Muscle tissue (contract)
Nervous tissue (call (signal))

Question 3

Where can you find epithelial tissue?

Answer 3

Body coverings
Body linings
Glandular tissue

Question 4

What are the main functions of epithelial tissue?

Answer 4

Protection
Absorption
Filtration
Secretion

Question 5

What are the characteristics of epithelial tissue?

Answer 5

Cells fit closely together and often form sheets
The apical surface is the free surface of the tissue
The lower surface of the epithelium rests on a basement membrane
Avascular (no blood supply)
Regenerate easily if well nourished

Question 6

Where is connective tissue found in the body?

Answer 6

everywhere

Question 7

What are the main functions of connective tissue?

Answer 7

Provides protection
Binds body tissues together
Supports the body

Question 8

What are the characteristics of connective tissue?

Answer 8

Variations in blood supply
Some tissue types are well vascularized
Some have a poor blood supply or are avascular
Extracellular matrix:
Nonliving material that surrounds living cells

Question 9

What are the two main elements of an extracellular matrix?

Answer 9

ground substance - mostly water along with adhesion proteins and polysaccharide molecules
fibres: collagen, elastin, reticular (produced by cells)

Question 10

What are the three major types of connective tissue?

Answer 10

connective tissue proper
fluid connective tissue
supporting connective tissue

Question 11

What is areolar tissue?

Answer 11

Loose connective tissue

• most widely distributed connective tissue
• soft, pliable tissue (like cobwebs)
• functions as a universal packing tissue and glue to hold organs in place

layer of areolar tissue called lamina propria underlies all membranes
All fiber types form a loose network
Can soak up excess fluid (causes edema)

Question 12

What is adipose tissue?

Answer 12

Loose connective tissue

• Matrix is an areolar tissue in which fat globules predominate
• many cells contain large lipid deposits with nucleus to one side (signet ring cells)

Question 13

What are the functions of adipose tissue?

Answer 13

• insulates body
• protects some organs
• serves as a site of fuel storage

Question 14

What is reticular tissue?

Answer 14

Loose connective tissue

delicate network of interwoven fibers with reticular cells (like fibroblasts)

Question 15

Where are reticular tissues found?

Answer 15

forms stroma (internal framework) of organs, such as these lymphoid organ:

• lymph nodes
• spleen
• bone marrow

Question 16

What is dense connective tissue?

Answer 16

dense fibrous tissue

• main matrix element is collagen fibre
• fibroblasts are cells that make fibres

Question 17

Where is dense connective tissue found?

Answer 17

• tendons: attach skeletal muscle to bone
• ligaments: attach bone to bone joints and are more elastic than tendons
• dermis- lower layers of skin

Question 18

What are the three types of loose connective tissue proper?

Answer 18

Areolar tissue
Adipose tissue
Reticular

Question 19

What is a type of fluid connective tissue?

Answer 19

blood (vascular tissue)

• blood cells surrounded by fluid matrix known as blood plasma
• soluble fibres are visible only during clotting

Question 20

Vascular tissue functions as a transport vehicle for the cardiovascular system, it carries…

Answer 20

nutrients
wastes
respiratory gases

Question 21

What is supporting osseous tissue?

Answer 21

supporting connective tissue
bone (osseous tissue) is composed of 
- large numbers of collagen fibres
- hard matrix of calcium salts
- osteocytes (bone cells) within lacunae (cavities)

Question 22

What is the function of osseous tissue?

Answer 22

protect and support the body $

Question 23

What is cartilage?

Answer 23

supporting connective tissue

Question 24

Describe cartilage

Answer 24

• less hard and more flexible than bone
• found in only a few places in the body
• chondrocyte (cartilage cell) is the major cell type

Question 25

What is hyaline?

Answer 25

(supporting connective tissue)

most widespread type of cartilage

• composed of abundant collagen fibres and a rubbery matrix
• more flexible skeletal element than bone

Question 26

Where is hyaline found?

Answer 26

larynx, epiphyseal plates

entire fetal skeleton

Question 27

Describe elastic cartilage

Answer 27

• Supporting connective tissue
• provides elasticity
• supports the external ear

Question 28

describe fibrocatilage

Answer 28

• highly compressible

- forms cushion-like discs between vertebrae of the spinal column

Question 29

What is the function of muscle tissue?

Answer 29

contract, or shorten, to produce movement

Question 30

What are the three types of muscle tissue?

Answer 30

skeletal
cardiac
smooth

Question 31

Describe skeletal muscle?

Answer 31

• voluntarily (consciously) controlled
• attached to the skeleton and pull on bones or skin
• produces gross body movements or facial expressions

Question 32

What are some characteristics of skeletal muscles?

Answer 32

• striations (stripes)
• multinucleate (more than on nucleus)
• long, cylindrical shape

Question 33

Describe cardiac muscle

Answer 33

• involuntarily controlled
• found only in the heart
• pumps blood through blood vessels

Question 34

What are the characteristics of cardiac muscle?

Answer 34

• striations
• uninucleate, short, branching cells
• intercalated discs contain gap junctions to connect cells together

Question 35

Describe visceral muscle (smooth)

Answer 35

• involuntarily controlled
• found in walls of hollow organs such as stomach, uterus, and blood vessels
• peristalsis, a wavelike activity, is a typical activity

Question 36

What are the characteristics of visceral muscle?

Answer 36

• No visible striations
• Uninucleate
• Spindle-shaped cells

Question 37

Describe nervous tissue

Answer 37

Composed of neurons and nerve support cells
Function is to receive and conduct electrochemical impulses to and from body parts
Irritability
Conductivity
Support cells called neuroglia insulate, protect, and support neurons