Histology Anatomy and Physiology

Simple squamous epithelium

Single layer of flattened cells. found on edges

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Single layer of cubelike cells.

Simple columnar epithelium

Single layer of tall cells With tall oval nuclei.

Pseudo Stratified columnar epithelium

Single layer of cells of differing heights, nuclei at different levels. Cilia on top

Stratified squamous epithelium

Thick membrane composed of several layers. Basal layers are cuboidal or columnar with flattened surface layers.

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Generally two layers of cube like cells. Found in glands.

Stratified columnar epithelium

Several cell layers. Basal cells usually cuboidal with superficial columnar cells.

Transitional epithelium

Resembles both stratified squamous and stratified cuboidal. Different shapes based on organ stretch. Found in the urinary system.

Connective tissue: adipose.

Gel like matrix but scarce. Tightly packed adipocytes, or fat cells, have nucleus pushed to the side by large fat droplets.

Cartilage: Hyaline

Amorphous but firm matrix; collagen fibers form an imperceptible network; chondroblasts produce the matrix and, when mature, lie in lacunae.

Cartilage: elastic

Similar to hyaline, but more elastic fibers in matrix.

Cartilage: fibrocartilage

Matrix similar to but less firm than matrix in hyaline cartilage, thick collagen fibers predominate.

Bones (osseous tissue)

Hard, calcified matrix containing many collagen fibers; osteocytes lie in lacunae. Very well vascularized.

Blood

Red and white blood cells in a fluid matrix.

Nervous tissue

Neurons are branching cells; cell processes that may be quite long extend from the nucleus-containing cell body; also contributing to nervous tissue are non-excitable supporting cells.

Skeletal muscle

Long cylindrical, multinucleate cells, obvious striations.

Cardiac muscle

Branching striated, generally cells with one nucleus each that connect at specialized junctions called intercalated discs.

Smooth muscle

Spindle shaped cells with central nuclei; no striations; cells arranged closely to form sheets. Lines digestive system.

Neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Connective tissue: Areolar

Function: Wraps and cushions organs, Found around organs, surrounds capillaries

Connective tissue: reticular

Thin collagen fibers in a 3d network. Found in liver and spleen

Dense connective tissue: Regular

Durable, but poor blood supply and not stretchy. Found in tendons and ligaments

Dense connective tissue: Irregular

Thicker, interwoven, and more randomly organized tissue found in the dermis

Dense connective tissue, elastic

Containing a high proportion of elastic fibers. Found in tissues that need to stretch, such as blood vessels.