Anatomy and Physiology: Muscle and Nervous Tissue Quiz

Smooth Muscle Tissue

• Nonstriated, involuntary, tapered cells with a single nucleus
• Found in hollow organs (stomach, intestine), skin, and eyes
• Regulates organ size, forces fluid through tubes, and controls light entering the eye
• Produces 'goose bumps'

Nervous Tissue

• Found in brain, spinal cord, and nerves
• Responsible for coordinating and controlling action potentials
• Neurons conduct action potentials
  • Cell body contains the nucleus and performs general cell functions
  • Dendrites receive electric impulses
  • Axon conducts electric impulses

Membranes

• Thin layer of tissue covering a structure
• Consists of epithelium and connective tissue
• Types:
  • Mucous membranes (line digestive, respiratory, and reproductive tracts)
  • Serous membranes (e.g., pleura, pericardium)

Bone Tissue

• Hard connective tissue with living cells and mineralized matrix
• Osteocytes (bone cells) located in lacunae
• Supports and protects other organs
• Two types: spongy and compact bone

Fluid Connective Tissue

• Liquid matrix enables blood to flow rapidly
• Functions: carries nutrients, oxygen, and waste products
• Components:
  • Red blood cells (RBCs)
  • White blood cells (WBCs)
  • Platelets

Muscle Tissue

• Ability to contract
• Muscle fibers resemble tiny threads
• Types:
  • Skeletal (striated, voluntary)
    • Large, long, cylindrical cells
    • Multinucleated
    • Attached to bones
    • Responsible for body movement
  • Cardiac (striated, involuntary)
    • Cylindrical cells
    • Branched and connected by intercalated disks
    • Single nucleated
    • Found in the heart
    • Pumps blood

Connective Tissue

• Types:
  • Areolar connective tissue
    • Collagen fibers and few elastic fibers
  • Adipose tissue
    • Consists of adipocytes (fat cells) for energy storage
    • Loose-arranged collagen and reticular fibers, scattered elastic fibers
  • Reticular connective tissue
• Dense connective tissue
  • Collagenous
    • EM: collagen fibers
  • Elastic
    • Abundant elastic fibers (stretch and recoil) in collagen fibers

Supporting Connective Tissue

• Cartilage
  • Composed of chondrocytes in lacunae
  • Provides flexibility and strength
  • Supports organs
  • Types:
    • Hyaline cartilage (most abundant, covers bone ends)
    • Fibrocartilage (more collagen, resists pulling/tearing, found in disks between vertebrae and some joints)
    • Elastic cartilage (contains elastic fibers, able to recoil, found in external ear, epiglottis, and auditory tube)