Glossary

Tissue Level of Organisation

Glossary

Acinus – Cells arranged into a circular secretory unit

Adipocyte – Large cell (up to 200 microns) with only a thin film of cytoplasm due to the presence of a large fat droplet.

Adipose tissue – A group of adipocytes.

Bone – Specialized connective tissue with a mineralized (hydroxyapatite) matrix.

Collagen – A triple helix protein which allows for great tensile strength.

Goblet cell – special mucus secreting columnar epithelial cell located in the respiratory tract and intestine.

Lacunae – A cavity or depression especially in the bone

Mast cells – Cells filled with basophilic granules found in numbers in connective tissue and releases histamine and other substances during inflammatory and allergic reactions.

Macrophages – Immune cells derived from monocytes; engaged in phagocytosis of microbes and debris.