1. The aorta (a principal blood vessel) has three layers surrounding its lumen. What is the predominant tissue in each of the three layers and what is the adaptive function of each?

2. Is the skin a tissue or an organ? What statements can you make to justify your response? Are there any good counterarguments?

3. The function of a tissue is actually a function of its cells. And the function of a cell is a function of its organelles. Knowing this, what type of organelles would be particularly abundant in cardiac muscle tissue that requires a lot of energy; in reticular tissue within the liver, where cellular debris and toxins are ingested; and in fibrous connective tissue that consists of tough protein strands?

4. Explain the relationship between adipose cells and fat. Discuss the function of fat and explain the potential danger of excess fat.

5. Why does cancer rarely occur in muscle fibers (for example, in the cardiac muscle fibers of the heart)? Why are most brain tumors (gliomas) composed of neuroglial cells?

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