Chapter 3: BODY TISSUES

HISTOLOGY is the study of tissues.

4 MAJOR TISSUE TYPES: epithelial (covering), connective (support), muscle (movement) and nervous (control)
1. EPITHELIAL TISSUE (epithe = laid on, covering)

Epithelium is the LINING, COVERING and GLANDULAR tissue of the body. Characteristics: 1. Fit tightly together (form continuous sheets). 2. They have one exposed surface (apical surface) and a lower surface that rests on a basement membrane, a structureless material that acts like an anchor. 3. They are avascular, meaning that they have no blood supply. 4. If well nourished, they can regenerate. Functions: 1. Protection (skin epithelium protects against harmful bacteria or chemicals) 2. Absorption (ciliated cells of the digestive tract absorb food) 3. Filtration (kidneys filter nitrogenous wastes from blood) 4. Secretion (glandular epithelium makes oils, mucus or digestive enzymes) *Epithelial Tissues can have one or two layers: 1. SIMPLE= one layer of cells 2. STRATIFIED= two or more cell layers that look like stacks of cells *Epithelial Tissues can have three different shapes: 1. SQUAMOUS flattened like pancakes or fish scales (squam = scale) 2. CUBOIDAL cube-shaped like dice 3. COLUMNAR tall and elongated like a column

Specific Forms of Epithelium: 1. Simple squamous: Found in air sacs of lungs (gas exchange), walls of
capillaries in blood stream (nutrient and gas exchange), and in serous membranes (covering and protecting organ cavities) Simple cuboidal: Found in glands like pancreas, as walls of the kidney tubules and covering the surface of the ovaries Simple columnar: Found along digestive tract from stomach to anus (digestion and absorption). Cilia may be found along them to increase efficiency. May contain goblet cells that produce a lubricating mucus Pseudostratified columnar: single, tall layer attached to basement membrane but some cells shorter, giving the appearance of stratification. Found along the respiratory tract (absorption and excretion) Stratifiied squamous: Found along the esophagus, mouth and outer portion of skin (and they usually take a beating in these places so they need to be layered) Stratified cuboidal and columnar: very rare. Found in the ducts of large glands. Transitional epithelium: modified stratified squamous. Found lining organs like urinary bladder, uterers and urethra (and they usually get a good stretching as a result) Bladder stretches from many cells to only one or two cell levels thick like a balloon to fit more urine. Glandular epithelium: specialized cells that produce a product called a secretion. Found in glands like the thyroid, adrenals, and pituitary.

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2. CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Common Characteristic of all connective tissue: Made of 2 things: a. Living cells b. Nonliving substance called the extracellular matrix which can be liquid, semisolid, gel-like (squishy) or very hard Common Functions of all connective tissue: 1. protection

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support holding together

5 Forms of Connective Tissue: 1. Loose connective tissue--- 3 types: a. Areolar tissue- soft, loose, fluid and pliable. Glue that holds organs together, packing tissue that cushions and protects body organs, reservoir for water and salts. b. Adipose tissue (fat)- soft and filled with oil droplets. Found beneath the skin and surrounds some organs. Provide insulation, to store energy and to protect organs from damage c. Reticular connective tissue- delicate network of interwoven fibers. Serves as a support framework in lymphoid organs like the spleen, lymph nodes or bone marrow. 2. Dense connective tissue-- Main matrix element is collagen fibers (strong and rope-like) Contains rows of FIBROBLASTS (fiber-forming cells) Functions to form strong connections 3 forms: TENDONS connect skeletal muscles to bones; LIGAMENTS connect bones to bones; DERMIS lower layers of skin 3. Cartilage-- softer and more flexible than bone; contains collagen fibers Serves functions of support and protection (like bone); also forms connections where cushion, elasticity, or flexibility is desired 3 forms: HYALINE (in voice box, attaches ribs to sternum, covers ends of bones); ELASTIC (in external ear); FIBROCARTILAGE (cushion-like discs between vertebrae) 4. Blood--- Blood is a tissue??? Considered a tissue b/c it consists of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) surrounded by a fluid matrix called blood

plasma Serves as the transporter for nutrients, respiratory gasses, wastes and other good stuff

5. Bone--Composed of bone cells sitting in cavities called lacunae Bone cells surrounded by layers of very hard matrix (made of calcium salts and large amounts of collagen fibers) Serves to protect and support organs May be compact or spongy May be long, short, flat, or irregular

3. MUSCLE TISSUE: Characteristics of all muscles: 1. contract (shorten) to produce movement 2. long and skinny and are called muscle fibers 3 Forms: a. Skeletal muscles Characteristics: striated (have stripes),multinucleate, controlled voluntarily Function: control the movements of bones Location: next to bones b. Cardiac muscles Characteristics: striated, uninucleate, controlled involuntarily Function: involuntary contraction of heart Location: heart c. Smooth muscles Characteristics: NOT striated, uninucleate, controlled involuntarily Function: involuntary contractions to move food and other substances (peristalsis) Location: walls of hollow organs (stomach, bladder, etc.)

4. NERVOUS TISSUE: Formed by cells called NEURONS that transmit

electrochemical impulses down their length Neurons are supported by other cells that insulate, protect and support them Function: conduct electrical impulses from one part of the body to another (irritability and conductivity) Location: brain, spinal cord and all nerves