Tissue Types

• Tissues


  Groups of cells which are similar in structure and which perform common or related functions
• Types of muscle tissues

  • Skeletal muscle
  • Smooth muscle
  • Cardiac muscle
• Skeletal muscle


  • Location and function: found attached to the skeleton and is responsible for the voluntary movement of bones
  • Structure: Skeletal muscle fibres are arranged in bundle, they are multinucleated (many nuclei), have obvious striations (stripes)
• Smooth muscle


  • Location and function: found in the lining of internal organs (digestive system tract, blood vessels, uterus, eye etc), controls the involuntary constriction in for peristalsis in the digestive system, constriction of blood vessels pupil constriction
  • Structure: not striated, have a spindle shape, each fibre contains a single central nucleus
• Cardiac muscle


  • Location and function: Found in the heart, Responsible for the rhythmic contraction of the heart
  • Structure: Fibres are branching, have intercalated discs cells for a synchronized contractions during heart beat, single nucleus per fibre
• Nervous tissue


  • Function and location: Main component of the nervous system (ie brain , spinal column and nerves), Generates and transmits nerve impulses
  • Structure: Cells have many long processes (extensions), Large central nucleus, Two types of nervous tissue – neurons and glial cells (neuroglial cells)
• Locations of epithelial tissue

  • Lines the cavities, tubes, ducts and blood vessels inside the body
  • Covers the organs inside body cavities
  • Makes up the skin, covers the outside of the body
• Functions of epithelial tissue

  • Protection from physical & chemical injury
  • Protection against microbial invasion
  • Contains receptors which respond to stimuli
  • Filters, secretes & reabsorbs materials and secretes fluids to lubricate structures
• Squamous epithelium


  • Simple – one cell thick
  • Forms solid layer of cells which line blood vessels, body cavities & cover organs in body cavities
  • Stratified – multiple layers
  • Forms epidermis (skin)
• Cuboidal epithelium


  • Simple – one cell thick
  • Roughly cube shaped
  • Line ducts in kidneys, etc, where reabsorption and secretory activities take place
• Columnar epithelium


  • Simple – one cell thick
  • Column shaped (long & narrow)
  • Line digestive tract where reabsorption & secretion occurs
• Functions of connective tissue

  • Connects, binds and supports structures
  • Protects & cushions organs and tissues
  • Insulates (fat) and
  • Transports substances (blood)
  • Stores nutrients
• Structure of connective tissue

  • Cells are not tightly packed together
  • Cells are separated from each other by a large amount of non-cellular material called the matrix
  • Matrix is made up of a ground substance (usually a fluid) and protein fibres
• Adipose connective tissue


  • Structure: Honeycomb appearance, Large amount of ground substance and less fibres
  • Function: Stores energy (fat), Insulates, Supports & protects organs
• Bone connective tissue


  • Structure: Tree ring-like appearance, Little ground material, Hard matrix
  • Function: Supports & protects, Mineral storage, Fat storage, Blood cell production
• Cartilage connective tissue


  • Structure: Contains specialized cells called chondrocytes within the matrix
  • Function: Gives shape, support and structure to other body tissues, Types of cartilage based on their structure
• Blood connective tissue


  • Structure: Fluid connective tissue, No fibres, Only ground substance (plasma) and blood cells
  • Function: Transports gases and nutrients, Immune response (white blood cells)
• Loose connective tissue


  • Structure: Large amounts of ground substance and few fibres, Includes adipose and areolar and reticular tissue
• Dense connective tissue


  • Structure: Contains more collagen fibres than loose CT so shows a greater resistance to stretching
• Epithelium characteristics- closely attached to each other forming a protective barrier.

  Can have lots of nerves in it

  Very good at regenerating
• Stratified epithelium-stacked up cell layers (protection from rubbing)