Avascular
Describes any tissue that does not have a direct blood supply
Vascular
Describes any tissue that does have a direct blood supply
Squamous
Flat cells; structure is ideal for diffusion/transport
Cuboidal
Box-shaped or cube-shaped cells; structure is ideal for secretion/re-absorption
Columnar
Tall, rectangular-shaped cells; structure is ideal for storage/absorption or protection
Simple
Term used to describe only ONE layer of cells
Stratified
Term used to describe 2 or more layers of cells
Pseudostratified
Term used to describe a tissue that appears to have more than one layer, but is really only one layer; FAKE layers
Basal surface
Part of epithelial tissue that is at the bottom of the tissue and attached to the basement membrane
Free surface
Part of the epithelial tissue that is exposed to an open area (either the external environment or to the inside of a hollow organ).
Endocrine Glands
Glandular tissue that releases its products (hormones) directly into the bloodstream
Exocrine Glands
Glandular tissue that releases its products (mucus, saliva, oil, wax, sweat, digestive enzymes, milk) directly onto a surface
Transitional
Term used to describe cells that have the ability to change shape from columnar/cuboidal to squamous/flat
Keratin
A protein found in the skin, hair and nails that helps to keep those structures waterproof
Absorption
Process by which a fluid or nutrient is taken up within a cell
Secretion
Process by which a fluid or another substance is released from a cell into the blood or onto a surface
Goblet Cell
Cells found with Columnar Epithelium that create & release mucus