Definition of tissue
Group of similar cells that usually have a similar embryological origin an are specialized for a particular function
Definition of histology
The science that deals with the study of tissues
Pathologists
Physicians who specialize in laboratory studies of cells and tissues, aid other physicians in making diagnoses; and perform autopsies
Autopsies
Post-mortem examination
Biopsies
Sample of living tissue removed for microscopic examination
Four principal types of various tissues of the body
Epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue
Epithelial tissue
Covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs, body cavities, and ducts; and forms glands
Connective tissue
Protects and supports the body and its organs, binds organs together, stores energy reserves as fat, and provides immunity
Muscle tissue
Responsible for movement and generation of force
Nervous tissue
Initiates and transmits action potentials (nerve impulses) that help coordinate body activities
All tissues and organs of the body develop from one or more of the three primary germ layers
Ectoderm, endoderm, and semederm
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
External to all body cells, providing a medium for dissolving and mixing solutes, transporting substances, and carrying out chemical reactions
Interstitial (intercellular) fluid
Subdivision of the ECF fills the microscopic spaces (interstitial spaces) between cells in tissues
Plasma
The other subdivision of the ECF, is the liquid portion of blood, found in blood vessels
The extracellular substance of connective tissue consists
Matrix
Matrix
Contains protein fibers embedded in a fluid, gel, or solid ground substance
Ground substance contains
Number of large molecules, including adhesion proteins
Most cells within a tissue remain
In place, anchored to other cells, basement membranes, and connective tissues. Exceptions include phagocytes and embryonic cells involved in differential and growth
Cell junctions
Points of contact between adjacent plasma membranes
Three types of cell junctions serve distinct functions
Tight junctions, anchoring junctions, and communicating junctions
Tight junctions
Form fluid-tight seals between cells and are common among epithelial cells
Tight junctions can be seen
Lining the stomach,intestines, and urinary bladder
Anchoring junctions
Fasten cells to one another or to the extracellular material, common in tissues subjected to friction and stretching, and include desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and adherens juctions
Anchoring junctions can be seen
Outer layer of skin, muscle of heart, neck of uterus, and lining of gastrointestinal tract
Communicating junctions
Allow the rapid spread of action potentials from one cell to the next in some parts of the nervous system and in muscle of the heart and gastrointestinal tract
Communicating junctions can be seen
In a developing embryo, chemical and electrical signals that regulate growth
Gap juction
The microscopic structure that function as a communicating juction
The subtypes of epithelium (epithelial tissues) include
Covering and lining epithelium and glandular epithelium
General features of epithelial tissues
- Consist mostly of closely packed cells with little extracellular material
- Arranged in sheets, in either single or multiple layers
- Apical and basal surface attached to a basement membrane
- Many cell junctions are present, providing secure attachments among the cells
- Avascular; exchange of materials between epithelium and adjacent connective tissue by diffusion
- Adhere firmly to nearby connective tissue via a thin extracellular layer, the basement membrane
- Have a nerve supply
- Have a high capacity for a renewal (high mitotic rate)
- Derived from all three primary germ layers
Epithelia function includes
Protection, filtration, lubrication, secretion, digestion, absorption, transportation, excretion, sensory reception, and reproduction
The arrangement of covering and lining epithelium reflects
Its location and function
Layers are arranged as
Simple (one layer), stratified (several layers), and pseudostratified (one layer that appears as several)
Cell shapes include
Squamous (flat), cuboidal (cube-like), columnar (rectangular), and transitional (variable)
Simple squamous epithelium
Consist of a single layer or flat, scale-like cells adapted for diffusion and filtration
Simple squamous epithelium is found
In lungs and kidneys; in serous membranes, it functions in osmosis and secretion
Endothelium
Lines the heart and blood vessels
Mesothelium
Lines the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and covers the organs within them
Simple cuboidal epithelim
Consist of a single layer of cube-shaped cells, adapted for secretion (mucus, perspiration, and enzymes) and absorption (the intake of fluids or other substances by cells)
Simple cuboidal epithelium is found
Covering ovaries, in kidneys and eyes, and lining some glandular ducts
Simple columnar noncilliated epithelium
Consist of a single layer of non-cilliated rectangular cells, functions in secretion of mucus and in absorption
Simple columnar non-cilliated epithelium is found
Lining most of the gastrointestinal tract, where specialized cells containing microvilli perform absorption and goblet cells secrete mucus
Simple columnar ciliated epithelium
Consist of a single layer of ciliated rectangular cells, moves fluids or particles along a passageway bu ciliary action
Simple columnar ciliated epithelium is found
In a few portions of the upper respiratory tract, uterine tubes, uterus, some paranasal sinuses, and the central canal of the spinal cord
Stratified squamous epithelium
Consist of several layers of cells win which the top layer is flat and performs a protective function; keratinized and nonkeratinized
Keratin
Protein that is waterproof, resistant to friction, and helps repel bacteria
Stratified squamous epithelium keratinized variety forms are found
On the outer layer of the skin
Stratified squamous epithelium nonkeritinized variety forms are found
Lining the the mouth, esophagus, part of the epiglottis, vagina, and covers the tongue
Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Consist of several layers of cells in which the top layer is cube-shaped; functions in protection
Stratified cuboidal epithelium is found
In ducts of adult sweat glands and parts of the male urethra
Stratified columnar epithelium
Consist of several layers of cells in which the top layer is rectangular
Stratified columnar epithelium is found
in portions of the male urethra and large excretory ducts of some glands
Transitional epithelium
Consist of several layers of cells whose appearance is variable, is capable of stretching and this permits distention of an organ
Transitional epithelium is found
Lining the urinary bladder and portions of ureters and the urethra
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Consist of only one layer but gives the appearance of many; it functions in secretion and movement of mucus by ciliary action
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium is found
Lining larger excretory ducts of many large glands, part of the make urethra, and the auditory (Eustachian) tubes. The ciliated variety with goblet cells lines most of the upper respiratory tract
Gland
Single cell or a mass of epithelial cells adapted for secretion
Endocrine glands
Sweat, oil, and digestive glands secretes their products into ducts that empty at the surface of covering and lining epithelium or directly onto a free surface
Exocrine glands are classified into two structural types:
Unicellular and multicellular
The functional classification of exocrine glands is based on
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