INTRO TO HISTOLOGY 

(The study of the microscopic structure of tissues) 

Learning Target  I can analyze a scenario and discuss the type of tissue it is pertaining to. 
Proficiency  Descriptor  Definition 
4  Proficient  I can analyze a scenario and discuss the type of tissue it is pertaining to. 
3  Developing  I can recognize a variety of tissues in the laboratory. 
2  Basic  I can summarize the general characteristics of different types of tissues. 
1  Minimal  I can list the four major tissue types and tell where each is located in the 
body. 
0  No Evidence  No evidence. 
 
Use Chapter 4 in the ​OpenStax book​ for the following notes: 
 
EPITHELIAL TISSUE 
4.1 Types of Tissues 
1. Define the term ​tissue​. 
A group of cells organized into layers. It’s a group of cells found together in the body.  
2. Name the four primary adult tissue types, and give a brief description of each.  
Epithelial-covers outside of body (skin) 
Connective tissue-binds everything together 
Muscle tissue-responsible for movement and responds to stimulation 
Nervous tissue- responsible for communication between body parts.  
 
 
4.2 Epithelial Tissue 
3. Where is epithelial tissue found? On the exterior of the body, and lining organs and cavities.  
 
4. Discuss  the  vascularity  (regarding  presence  of  vessels)  of  epithelial  tissue. There is basically 
no vascularity in these tissues.  
 
5. What  are  general  functions  of  epithelial  tissue?  Provide  general  defense  against  elements. 
Control permeability, and secretion.  
 
6. Discuss  how  epithelial  tissue  is  classified  (named).  They  are  classified  based  on 
stratification,  and  shape.  The  stratification  is  either  singular  layer  (Simple)  or  multiple 
layers  (stratified)  The  shape  is  either  squamous  (flat),  cuboidal  (cubic),  or  columnar 
(Columns).  There  is  also  a  psuedostratified  classification  where  the  cells  are  columnar  and 
simple, but appear to be stratified because of their irregular shape, size, and orientation.  
 
7. For  each  of  the  following  epithelial  tissues  (ET),  give  a  structural  description  (including  any 
special  features  such  as  cilia,  goblet  cells,  etc.),  note  a  key  body  location,  and  identify  its 
function(s): (I would suggest making a table and including an image) 
 
A. Simple  Squamous  ET:  one  layer  of  flattened  cells.  They  allow  materials  to  pass 
through  and  are  used mostly for diffusion and secretion of lubrication. They are found 
in the lungs and heart.  
B. Simple  Cuboidal  ET:  One  layer  of  cubic  cells.  They  absorb  materials  and  secrete 
substances. They are found in the kidney tubules.  
 C. Simple  Columnar  ET:  used  for  absorption  and  secretion  of  mucus  and  enzymes.  Have 
cilia in bronchi, and urinary tract, and no cilia in the digestive tract.  
D. Pseudostratified  Columnar  ET:  Have  cilia,  line  upper  respiratory  tract.  Secretes  and 
moves mucus.  
E. Transitional  ET:  lines  bladder  and  urethra.  Allows  tissue  to  expand  and  stretch.  A 
stratified combination of squamous, cuboidal, and columnar.  
F. Stratified  Squamous  ET  (both  keratinized  and  non-keratinized):  protects  against 
abrasion. Layers of compact cells. Found in mouth and vagina.  
G. Stratified  Cuboidal  ET:  sweat,  salivary,  and  mammary  glands.  Provides  protection. 
Layers of cubic cells.  
H. Stratified Columnar ET: Male urethra. Protects and secretes.  
I. Glandular ET  
 
8. Distinguish between merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine exocrine glands and give an example 
of  each.  Endocrine  release  things  directly  into  the  body,  exocrine  releases  things  outside of 
the  body.  An  example  of  exocrine  are  sweat  glands  or  breastmilk.  A  merocrine  gland 
releases  products  through  exocitosis.  An  example would be sweat glands. Apocrine cells lose 
a  portion  of  the  cell  as  the  secretion,  but  the  cell  continues  to  live afterwards. An example 
of  this  is  armpit  sweat.  Holocrine  basically  dies  and  lyses,  and  the  dead  cell  becomes  the 
secretion. Oily skin and hair are examples of this.  
 
 
CONNECTIVE TISSUE 
4.3 Connective Tissue Supports and Protects 
 
9. Describe  the  general  characteristics  of  connective  tissues  (CT).  They  connect  tissues  and 
organs together. They also support and protect the body.  
 
10. Describe  the  difference  between  Connective  tissue  proper, supportive connective tissue and 
fluid  connective  tissue.  Connective  tissue  proper  is  used  for  elasticity  and  strength. 
Examples  of  this  are  tendons  and  ligaments.  Supportive  connective  tissue  are  things such as 
bone  and  cartilage.  They  are  characterized  by  densely  packed  fibers.  The  fluid  connective 
tissue is blood and lymph. They circulate nutrients and watery fluids.  
 
11. What types of fibers are found in connective tissue? How are they different?  
Collagen  fibers  are  long  and  straight  chains  of  protein  subunits.  They  make  up  ligaments  and 
tendons, and have great strength, resist stretch, and can flex easily.  
Elastic  fibers  contain  the  protein  elastine.  They  can  be  stretched,  and  still  return  to  their  original 
shape. They are found a lot in skin.  
Reticular  fibers  are  made  of  the  same  stuff  as  collagen.  They  are  used  to  help  keep  structure  in 
some organs.  
 
12. For  each  of  the  following  connective  tissues  (CT),  describe  its  structure,  name  a  key  body 
location, and identify its function(s): (I would suggest making a table and finding images) 
 
5-2
 
  Structure  Location  Functions  Picture 

Areolar    Beneath skin  Binds organs 

and between  and holds 
muscles.  tissue fluids.  
 
Everywhere in 
the body. 
Holds skin to 
body.  

Adipose  Mostly fat  Pretty much  Insulates, 

storage cells  everywhere.  stores energy, 
with some  Beneath skin,  protects organs 
extracellular  in kidneys,  and muscles.  
 
matrix  surface of 
heart, behind 
eyes.  

Reticular  Mesh-like  Spleen and  Supports other 

supportive  Liver  organs.  
framework   

Dense Regular  Fibers parallel  Ligaments and  Allows to 

to each other  tendons and  stretch. 
which enhances  deep skin  Supports 
strength and  layers  things.  
resistance to   
stretching.  

Dense  Direction of  Dermis of Skin  Strength and   

Irregular  fibers is  ability to 
random  retain shape.  

Hyaline  Short,  Ribcage, ends  Supports, 

Cartilage  dispersed  of bones.   protects 
collagen fibers.  framework. 
Appear smooth  Clear part on 
and clear.   ribcage. Allows   
ribs to flex.  

5-3
 Fibrocartilage  STAINED BLUE  Spinal disks.  Shock 
    Knee.   absorber. 

Elastic    Outer ear,  Supports 

Cartilage  more rigid.  protects, 
  Parts of larynx.   flexible 
framework.  
 

Bone  Looks like a  Very rigid.   Supports body. 

tree trunk  Structure.  

Blood    Veins, arteries,  Distributes 

vessels  oxygen, clots 
wounds, 
protects from 
pathogens.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5-4
 
A. Mesenchyme:  Multipotent  stem  cells  that  can  differentiate  into  any  type  of  needed 
connective tissue for repair.  
B. Areolar CT 
C. Adipose Tissue:  
D. Reticular CT 
E. Dense Regular CT 
F. Dense Irregular CT 
G. Hyaline Cartilage 
H. Fibrocartilage 
I. Elastic Cartilage 
J. Bone 
K. Blood 
 
MUSCLE TISSUE 
4.4 Muscle Tissue and Motion 
 
13. Define contractile. Muscle that takes signals to contract.  
 
14. Compare  and  contrast  the  three  types  of  muscle  tissue  in  terms  of  their  structure,  location 
in the human body, and function. (may want to make a table and include images) 
 
 
  Structure  Location  Function  Pic 

Smooth  Short and  Lines walls of  Involuntary, 

tapered in tight  blood vessels  help things work 
knit sheets  and hollow  without 
organs  needing.  
 

Cardiac  Striped like  Heart  Involuntary, 

skeletal, but  make heart 
only one  beat.  
nucleus 
 

Skeletal  Striped,  Pull on  Pull on 

multiple nuclei  bones/skin to  bones/skin to 
make move.   make move. 
Voluntary 
 
 
 
Skeletal: attaches to bones. Pull on bones/ skin to make you move. Long and cylindrical. Voluntary.  
5-5
Cardiac: involuntary, make heart beat. Only found in heart. Also striped like skeletal, but only have 
one nucleus unlike skeletal cells. 
Smooth:  Lines  walls  of  most  of  the  blood  vessels  and  most  hollow  organs.  Short  and  tapered  and 
arranged to form tight knit sheets. Also involuntary and uninucleate.  
 
 
 
NERVOUS TISSUE 
4.5 Nervous Tissue Mediates Perception and Response 
 
15. Identify the classes of cells that make up nervous tissue. 
 
16. Discuss how nervous tissue mediates perception and response. 
 
 
   

5-6