INTRO TO HISTOLOGY

(The study of the microscopic structure of tissues)

Learning Target I can analyze a scenario and discuss the type of tissue it is pertaining to.
Proficiency Descriptor Definition
4 Proficient I can analyze a scenario and discuss the type of tissue it is pertaining to.
3 Developing I can recognize a variety of tissues in the laboratory.
2 Basic I can summarize the general characteristics of different types of tissues.
1 Minimal I can list the four major tissue types and tell where each is located in the
body.
0 No Evidence No evidence.

After reading the following pages, 94-113, be able to

EPITHELIAL TISSUE
1. Define the term tissue. Organized groups of cells. Each type of tissue is is composed of
similar cells specialized to carry on a particular function.

2. Name the four primary adult tissue types, and give a brief description of each.
-Epithelial: Its main function is protection, secretion, absorption, and excretion. Location; cover
body surfaces, cover and line internal organs, compose glands. Distinguishing characters; Lack
blood vessels, readily divide; cells are tightly packed.
-Connective: Bind, support, protect, fill spaces, store fat, produce blood cells. Widely distributed
throughout the body, mostly have good blood supply; cells are farther apart than epithelial cells.
-Muscle: Movement, attached to bones, in the walls of hollow internal organs, heart. Able to
contract in response to specific stimuli.
-Nervous: Transmit impulses for coordination, regulation, integration, and sensory reception.
Located in brain, spinal cord, nerves. Cells communicate with each other and with other body
parts.

3. Sketch a typical layer of epithelium. Label each structure and use this cell layer to discuss
the characteristics, locations, and functions of epithelia.

4. Explain how epithelia are nourished.

-Epithelial tissues lack blood vessels. However, nutrients diffuse to epithelium rom unerlying
connective tissues, which have abundant blood vessels.

5. Discuss how epithelia are classified.

-They are classified according to shape and number of layers of cells.

6. For each of the following epithelial tissues (ET), give a structural description (including any
special features such as cilia, goblet cells, etc.), denote a key body location, and identify its
function(s): (I would suggest making a table)

A. Simple Squamous ET
- Structural description: Single layer of thin, flattened cells that fit tightly
together. Nuclei are usually broad and thin.
- Special features: Nuclei are broad and thin.
- Key body location: Air sacs, walls of capillaries, insides of blood and
lymph vessels, and membranes that line body cavities.
- Function: Lines air sacs, forms walls of capillaries, lines insides of blood
and lymph vessels, covers membranes that line body cavities.
B. Simple Cuboidal ET
- Structural description: Single layer of cube-shaped cells.
- Special features: Cells usually have centrally located, spherical nuclei
- Key body location: Ovaries, most of the kidney tubules, and glands.
- Function: In kidneys, tissue functions in secretion and absorption; in
glands, it secretes glandular products.
C. Simple Columnar ET
- Structural description: Elongated, Column like, single layered
- Special features: Nuclei is also elongated, just like the cell. Ciliated or
nonciliated.
- Key body location: Uterus, stomach, small and large intestines
- Function: Secretes digestive fluids and absorbs nutriesnts from digested
food
D. Pseudostratified Columnar ET
- Structural description: appear stratified, but are not
- Special features: Nuclei are at two or more levels, cells vary in shape,
cilia
- Key body location: Respiratory system
- Function: Trap dust and microorganisms that enter with the air
E. Transitional ET
- Structural description: Made up of cuboidal cells
- Special features: Several layers of cuboidal cells
- Key body location: urinary bladder, uterus, superior urethra
- Function: Specialized to change in response to increased tension
F. Stratified Squamous ET (both keratinized and non-keratinized)
- Structural description: Many layers of squished cells
- Special features: Nuclei is also squished, tissue is relatively thick
- Key body location: Skin
- Function: Forms the outer layer of the skin, also lines the oral cavity,
esophagus, vagina, and anal canal.
G. Stratified Cuboidal ET
- Structural description: Several layers of cuboidal cells
- Special features: None
- Key body location: Mammary glands, sweat glands, salivary glands, and
pancreas. Reproductive organs.
- Function: Provides protection
H. Stratified Columnar ET
- Structural description: Several layers of columnar cells
- Special features: None
- Key body location: Male urethra and ductus deferens and in parts of the
pharnyx
- Function: ?
I. Glandular ET
- Structural description: Mix of columnar and cuboidal cells
- Special features: Exocrine and Endocrine glands
- Key body location: Found within columnar or cuboidal epithelium - skin,
digestive tract.

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 - Function: Composed of cells that are specialized to produce and secrete
substances into ducts or into body fluids.

7. Distinguish between merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine exocrine glands and give an example
of each.
- Merocrine: Release fluid by exoctosis; Salivary glands, pancreatic glands, sweat glands
of skin
- Apocrine: Glands that lose small portions of their glandular cell bodies during
secretion; Mammary glands, ceruminous glands lining the external ear canal
- Holocrine: Glands that release entire cells that disintegrate to release cell secretions;
Sebaceous glands of the skin.

8. Define the term carcinoma - Growths that originate in epithelium

CONNECTIVE TISSUE
9. Describe the general characteristics of connective tissues (CT) and discuss the major
structural differences from ET's. - Bind structures, provide support and protection, serve as
frameworks, fill spaces, store fat, produce blood cells, protect against infections, and help
repair tissue damage. Connective tissues are farther apart than epithelial cells and have an
abundance of extracellular matrix between them.

10. Explain how CT's are composed of cells plus an extracellular matrix composed of ground
substance and fibers. - Connective tissue cells are farther apart than epithelial cells, and
they have an abundance of extracellular matrix which is composed of protein fibers and a
ground substance consisting of non fibrous protein and other molecules and fluid. The
consistency of the extra cellular matrix varies from fluid to semisolid to solid.

11. Describe ground substance, list the three CT fiber types, and name the many types of cells
that may compose CT.

12. For each of the following connective tissues (CT), describe its structure, name a key body
location, and identify its function(s): (I would suggest making a table)

A. Mesenchyme
B. Areolar CT
C. Adipose Tissue
D. Reticular CT
E. Dense Regular CT
F. Dense Irregular CT
G. Elastic CT
H. Hyaline Cartilage
I. Fibrocartilage
G. Elastic Cartilage
H. Bone
I. Blood

13. Explain why a CT may be either liquid (blood), semi-solid (fat), or very rigid (bone).
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14. Define the term epithelial membrane and discuss the structure, location, and function of
the three different types: cutaneous, mucous, and serous.

MUSCLE TISSUE
15. Explain why muscle cells are called fibers and define contractility.

16. Compare and contrast the three types of muscle tissue in terms of their structure, control,
location in the human body, and function. (may want to make a table)

NERVOUS TISSUE
17. Identify the major cell within nervous tissue, denote the location of nervous tissue in the
body, and discuss its function.

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