Histologists use specific terminology to describe tissue appearance. Some key terms include:
Epithelium: Described based on the number of cell layers (simple or stratified) and cell shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar). Connective Tissue: Characterized by the type of fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular) and the density of the extracellular matrix. Muscle Tissue: Identified by the arrangement of muscle fibers and the presence of striations (skeletal and cardiac muscle) or lack thereof (smooth muscle). Nervous Tissue: Described by the appearance of neurons and glial cells, as well as the organization of gray and white matter.
