Human Anatomy Study Guide
Chapter 4: Histology
Histology: microscopic study of tissue appearance, organization, and function
- Tissue: a group of cells found together in the body
Types of Tissue
- Epithelial: sheet of cells that cover exterior surfaces of the body, lines internal cavities, and
passageways, and forms certain glands.
o Function: protection, selective permeability/absorption, secretion, sensation
o General Characteristics:
o Attachment between epithelial cells
Tight Junction
Gap Junction
Desmosome
Adhering Junction
- Connective: binds the cells and organs of the body together
- Muscle: tissue capable of responding to stimulation and contracting to provide movement
- Nervous: tissue capable of propagating electrochemical signals in the form of nerve
impulses to communicate with different regions of the body
Types of Glands: organs throughout the body that produce and secrete substances (hormones, saliva,
mucin, enzymes, waste) to perform certain functions
- Endocrine: secretes hormones
o Controls growth, development, metabolism, mood, reproduction
- Exocrine: secretes substances such as sweat, saliva, and tears through ducts to exterior of
body
o Regulates body temperature, protects skin and eyes
o Ex: goblet cells (unicellular) secrete mucin (a protein), which forms mucus
Tissue Classification and Identification
Epithelial Tissues
- Simple Squamous Epithelium
o Location: alveoli of lungs, lining blood vessels, serous membranes
o Structure: single thin layer of flat cells, single flat nucleus in each
o Function: allows for rapid diffusion, filtration, and some secretion
- Stratified Squamous Epithelium (Keratinized or Nonkeratinized)
o Location: esophagus, anus, vagina (nonkeratinized), epidermis of skin (keratinized)
o Structure: multilayered, apical cells are squamous, keratinized = dead cells, filled
with the protein keratin alive in nonkeratinized
o Function: protection of underlying tissue
- Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
o Location: kidney tubules, ducts of most glands
o Structure: single layer of cells same width and height, centered nucleus
o Function: absorption and secretion
- Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
o Location: large ducts in most exocrine glands
o Structure: two or more layers of cells, apical cells are cuboidal
o Function: protection and secretion
- Simple Columnar Epithelium (Ciliated or Nonciliated)
o Location: lining of digestive tract (nonciliated), lining of uterine tubes (ciliated)
o Structure: single layer of tall narrow cells, oval shaped nucleus in basal region
o Function: absorption and secretion (nonciliated), secretion of mucin and movement
of mucus along apical surface of epithelium (ciliated)
- Stratified Columnar Epithelium
o Location: male urethra
o Structure: multiple layers of tall long cells, cells at apical surface are columnar
o Function: protection and secretion
- Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
o Location: respiratory tract (ciliated)
o Structure: single layer of cells that appear multilayered, all cells connect to
basement membrane, but not all cells reach apical surface
o Function: protection, secretion of mucin and movement of mucus
- Transitional Epithelium
o Location: lining of urinary bladder
o Structure: depends on whether tissue is stretched or relaxed, shape of cell on apical
surface will change
o Function: distention and relaxation to accommodate urine volume changes in
bladder, ureters, and urethra
Connective Tissues
Fluid Connective Tissue
- Blood
o Location: within blood vessels and the heart
o Structure and Function: contains erythrocytes (transport gases), leukocytes
(immune response), platelets (blood clotting), and plasma matrix (transports
nutrients, waste, and hormones)
Connective Tissue Proper – Loose Connective Tissue
- Areolar Connective Tissue
o Location: subcutaneous layer, surrounding organs
o Structure: vascular, matrix is gel-like
o Function: surrounds and protects tissues and organs
- Reticular Connective Tissue
o Location: forms stroma of lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow
o Structure: ground substance is gel-like liquid, reticular fibers (grapes)
o Function: provides supportive framework for lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and
bone marrow
- Adipose Connective Tissue
o Location: subcutaneous layer, surrounds organs
o Structure: closely packed adipocytes (fat cells), nucleus squeezed to one side
o Function: stores energy, insulation, protects, cushions
Connective Tissue Proper – Dense Connective Tissue
- Dense Regular Connective Tissue
o Location: tendons and ligaments
o Structure: parallel and densely packed collagen fibers
o Function: resists stress applied in one direction
- Elastic Connective Tissue
o Location: walls of elastic arteries – trachea, bronchial tubes, vocal chords
o Structure: parallel elastic fibers
o Function: allows for stretching of some organs
- Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
o Location: dermis, periosteum covering bone, perichondrium covering cartilage
o Structure: multidirectional and bundled collagen fibers
o Function: resists stress applied in many directions, durable
Bone Tissue
- Compact Bone
o Location: exterior of bones in the body
o Structure: calcified matrix arranged in osteons (concentric rings of lamellae)
o Function: provides support, protects internal organs, provides levers for movement,
stores minerals (calcium)
Supporting Connective Tissue – Cartilage Tissues
- Hyaline Cartilage
o Location: most of fetal skeleton, articular ends of long bones
o Structure: chondrocytes in lacunae
o Function: model for bone growth, provides smooth surface for movement at joints
- Fibrocartilage
o Location: intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, menisci of knee joint
o Structure: parallel collagen fibers, chondrocytes in lacunae
o Function: resists compression, absorbs shock in some joints
- Elastic Cartilage
o Location: external ear
o Structure: abundant elastic fibers (branching), chondrocytes in lacunae
o Function: provides structure while allowing for flexibility
Muscle Tissues
- Smooth Muscle
o Location: walls of hollow internal organs, airways, stomach, bladder, uterus
o Structure: spindle shaped muscle fibers, central nucleus
o Function: involuntary movement, moves material through internal organs
- Skeletal Muscle
o Location: attaches to bone or sometimes skin
o Structure: long muscle fibers – cylindrical and unbranched, striations
o Function: voluntary movement, moves skeleton, locomotion
- Cardiac Muscle
o Location: the heart
o Structure: muscle fiber – short and branched, striations, intercalated discs
o Function: involuntary contraction and relaxation of heart, pumps blood
Nervous Tissue
- Nervous Tissue
o Location: brain and spinal cord
o Structure: neuron, soma, axon, dendrites, neuroglia (glial cells)
o Function: communication between tissues
