Cells and tissues

List the special characteristics of epithelium and relate

these to function
Polarity – have an exposed, apical surface and a basal surface that differ in structure and
function
Specialized contacts – fit closely together to form continuous sheets (tight junctions and
desmosomes)
Supported by connective tissues – deep to the basal lamina is the basement
membrane, a layer of extracellular material containing a fine network of collagen protein
fibres
Avascular but innervated – nourished by substances diffusing from blood vessels in the
underlying connective tissue
Regeneration – high regenerative capacity, exposure to friction, bacteria, acids, smoke

Describe the classification of ‘covering/ lining’

epithelium
State the defining histological features of each class of
epithelium and relate these features to function

Recognise the histologic appearance of basic epithelium

types
Simple squamous epithelium
Simple cuboidal epithelium

Simple columnar epithelium

Pseudo stratified columnar epithelium

Stratified squamous epithelium

Transitional epithelium

List the differences in structure and function between

‘covering/ lining’ epithelium and ‘glandular epithelium’
Covering and lining epithelium, which forms the outer layer of the skin; dips into and
lines the open cavities of the urogenital, digestive, and respiratory systems; and covers
the walls and organs of the closed ventral body cavity
Glandular epithelium, which fashions the glands of the body and secrete a particular
product

Classify the endocrine and exocrine glands in terms of

structure and function, and give examples for each class
Endocrine glands
- Ductless
- Secrete by exocytosis directly into the extracellular space
- Produce hormones consisting of modified amino acids, peptides, glycoproteins,
and steroids
- Most are compact multicellular organs
- Eg, beta cells in pancreas that secretes insulin

Exocrine glands
- Secrete their products onto body surfaces (skin) or into body cavities
- Unicellular glands do so directly by exocytosis
- Multicellular glands do so via a duct that transports the secretion to the epithelial
surface
- Eg, mucous, sweat, oil, and salivary glands, the liver (which secretes bile), the
pancreas (which synthesizes digestive enzymes)
List the components of connective tissue and give the
function of each component
Ground substance and fibres constitute the extracellular matrix

Ground substance
- Is the unstructured material that fills the space between the cells and contains the
fibres
- Functions as a molecular sieve through which nutrients and other dissolved
substances can diffuse between the blood capillaries and the cells
- Composed of
o Interstitial fluid
o Cell adhesion proteins
 Fibronectin, laminin
 Allows connective tissue cells to attach to matrix elements
o Proteoglycans
 Protein core to which glycosaminoglycans attach
 Trap water, forming a substance that varies from a fluid to a viscous
gel

Fibres
- Provide support
- Consist of
o Collagen fibres
 Assemble spontaneously into crosslinked collagen fibrils
 Extremely tough and provide high tensile strength (the ability to
resist being pulled apart)
 o Elastic fibres
 Long, thin fibres that form branching networks in the extracellular
matrix
 Elastin allows them to stretch and recoil
o Reticular fibres
 Short, fine, collagenous fibres with a slightly different chemistry
and form
 Continuous with collagen fibres, and they branch extensively,
forming delicate networks that surround small blood vessels and
support the soft tissue of organs

Connective tissue cells

- Fibroblasts actively divide and secrete the ground substance and the fibres
- Fat cells which store nutrients
- White Blood Cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, basophils,
monocytes) that are concerned with tissue response to injury
- Mast cells initiate local inflammatory responses by secreting
o Heparin – anticoagulant
o Histamine – makes capillaries leak
o Proteases
- Macrophages that avidly phagocytize a broad variety of foreign materials
Classify the basic types of connective tissue according to
their components, giving an example of each type
Explain how the different structures of the different types
of connective tissue relate to their function
List the specialized forms of connective tissue (bone and
cartilage) and describe the histological classification of
each
Bone
- Hard, calcified matrix containing many collagen fibres; osteocytes lie in lacunae.
Very well vascularized
- More abundant collagen fibres and inorganic calcium salts (bone salts)
- Compact bone and spongy bone

Blood
- Red and white blood cells in a fluid matrix (plasma)
- Does not connect things or give mechanical support
- Classified as connective tissue because it comes from mesenchyme tissue

Cartilage
- Less hard and more flexible than bone
- Major cell type: chondrocytes
- Hyaline cartilage is most widespread: composed abundantly of collagen fibers,
rubbery matrix and glassy appearance

List the histological features of muscle tissue and briefly

describe the histological features of the 3 types of muscle
tissue
Skeletal
Cardiac

Smooth
Describe the functional unit of muscle at the microscopic
level, the sarcomere
The sarcomere is the contractile unit composed of myofilaments made up of contractile
proteins