Tissues Flashcards
What are the 4 types of tissue in the body?
Epithelial
Connective
Muscle
Nervous
What do epithelial tissues do?
Cover surfaces, separate different compartments etc
What defines the function in epithelial tissues?
Cells.
Can epithelial tissues form secondary structures?
Yes- glands, heat/touch receptors etc.
What does connective tissue do?
Connects tissues of the body.
Give some examples of connective tissue.
Blood, bone, adipose (fat).
What defines function within connective tissue?
Extracellular matrix and fluid.
What matrix exists in connective tissue?
Liquid to solid matrix.
What do muscle cells do?
Exist as long thin cells which are contractile for movement. Shortens length and close down spaces through breadth of contractile apparatus existing in the cytoplasm.
What are the cytoplasms of muscle tissue cells filled with?
Contractile apparatus.
What do nerve cells do?
Generate, receive and transmit electrical signals. Function in body communication and integration of body systems. Includes neurones and support cells (e.g. glial).
What is the difference between epithelium and endothelium?
Epithelium = outside Endothelium = inside
What does the function of epithelial tissue depend on?
Cellular specialisation rather than that of the extracellular matrix.
How does epithelial tissue maintain the coverage of a surface?
No contact inhibition- cells can touch/stick to other cells
Cell-cell junctions
ECM junctions
What are cell-cell junctions?
Junctions between cells which maintain epithelial tissue coverage of surfaces.
What are densosomes?
Adhering junctions- provide a firm anchorage through large proteinaceous thickening connective fibrous proteins on either side of a cell membrane.
Give an example of densosomes in action.
Elbow stretching.
What are tight junctions?
Occluding junctions- seal tight intracellular spaces.
Give an example of tight junctions in action.
Bacteria in the intestinal lumen cannot get through these.
What are gap junctions?
Communicating junctions- allow cell-cell communication through formation of a hole in the centre which allows transmission of chemical/electrical signals.
Give an example of gap junctions.
Intercalated discs of cardiac cells allows electrical impulse transmission.
How is epithelium maintain integration with the connective tissue?
Basement membrane
Cell-ECM junctions
Why does the basement membrane exist?
To maintain contact between the epithelium and things below (ECM/connective tissue).
What is the basal lamina composition like?
Gel.
What is the reticular lamina composition like?
Net; stringy fibres.
What are Cell-ECM junctions?
Junctions which connect the cell to the extracellular matrix.
Give an example of a cell-ECM junction.
Hemidesmosomes- connect the cell to the basement membrane.