Chapter 4 Histology Flashcards
Histology
Study of normal structures of tissues
Tissues
Group of structurally and functionally related cells and their external environment, together perform common functions)
2 Components of Tissues
- Discrete population of cells; related in structure and function
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) - surrounding material
4 Primary tissue types
- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue
- Muscle tissue
- Nervous tissue
Epithelial Tissue
-Cover and line all body surfaces and cavities.
-Tightly packed sheets of cells with no visible ECM
-Form glands that manufacture secretions
Connective Tissue
-Connect all other tissues to one another
-ECM is very prominent
-Cells are scattered out
-Bind, support, protect and allow for transportation of substances
Muscle Tissue
-Capable of generating force by contracting
-Little ECM between cells
Nervous Tissue
-Capable of generating, sending, and receiving messages
-Within unique ECM
Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
Substance in liquid, thick gel, or solid form that surround cells of tissue
2 Components:
1. Ground substance
2. Protein Fibers
Functions of ECM
–Provides tissue with strength to resist tensile (stretching) and compressive forces
–Directs cells to proper positions within tissue and holds those cells in place
–Regulates development, mitotic activity, and survival of cells in a tissue
Ground Substance
- Most of ECM
-Extracellular fluid (ECF or interstitial fluid) with water, nutrients, ions, and three families of macromolecules:
- Glycosaminoglycans (GACS)
- Proteoglycans
- Cell- adhesion molecules (CAMs)
Glycosaminoglycans (GACS)
chondroitin sulfate (small) and hyaluronic acid (enormous):
Negative charges of sugars in GAG attract positively charged ions in ECF
Ions create concentration gradient within ECF; draw water out of cells and blood vessels by osmosis
Effectively “trap” water in ECM; help ECM to resist compression; GradientsCore Principle
Proteoglycans
GAGs bound to protein core (resembles bottle brush):
Thousands of proteoglycans bind to very long GAG (such as hyaluronic acid); form huge proteoglycan “aggregates”
Make ECM firmer, more solid, and resistant to compression
Form barrier to diffusion of substances through ECM; protect underlying tissue from invading microorganisms
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)
Different types of glycoproteins:
Adhere to cell and cells to surroundings; hold everything in place within ECM
CAMs bind to cell surface proteins as well as protein fibers and proteoglycans; maintain normal tissue architecture
Protein Fibers
Embedded within ground substance; long molecules composed of multiple fibrous subunits with rope like structure; enormous tensile strength.
- Collagen fibers
- Elastic fibers
- Reticular fibers
Collagen Fibers
- Make up 20–25% of all proteins in body
- Composed of multiple repeating subunits
- Form white fibrous protein
- Resistant to tension (pulling and stretching forces) and pressure
Elastic Fibers
- Composed of protein elastin surrounded by glycoproteins
- Extensibility allows fibers to stretch up to one and a half times resting length without breaking. once stretched, fibers return to resting length (elasticity)
Reticular Fibers
- Thin, short collagen fibers; form meshwork or scaffold that supports cells and ground substance of many tissues
- Form weblike structure in organs such as spleen that helps trap foreign cells
Marfan Syndrome
Results from defects in gene that codes for glycoprotein fibrillin-I
Fibrillin
Component of ECM required for normal deposition of elastic fibers
Characteristics and symptoms of Marfan Syndrome
*Tall stature with long limbs and fingers; multiple skeletal abnormalities, recurrent joint dislocations, heart valve and lens (eye) abnormalities, and dilation of aorta
*Aortic dissection (rupture) – most lethal complication; layers of aortic wall separate and blood flows between them; leads to aortic rupture; ensuing blood loss is nearly always fatal if not caught and treated immediately
Cell Junctions
Another way cells bind to one another; neighboring cell’s plasma membranes are linked by integral proteins:
*Tight junctions *Desmosomes
*Gap junctions
Tight Junctions
(occluding junctions)
Holds cells closely together, space between is impermeable to movement of macromolecules
–Integral proteins of adjacent cell’s plasma membranes are locked together; form seal around apical perimeter of cell
–Seal may not be complete, allowing for leakage in some tissues
Example – between cells in blood vessels; prevent blood cells from exiting vessels
Desmosomes
Linking integral proteins; allow for materials in extracellular fluid to pass through space between cells
–Increase strength of tissue by holding cells together; mechanical stress is more evenly distributed
–Integral “linker” proteins are attached to intermediate filaments of cytoskeleton for structural reinforcement
–In tissues subjected to great deal of mechanical stress (epithelia of skin)