Tissues are the building blocks of our bodies, forming organs and systems that keep us alive. From protective to powerful muscles, each type plays a unique role. Understanding these tissues helps us grasp how our bodies function and maintain health.
The four main tissue types - epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous - work together seamlessly. They cover, support, move, and coordinate our bodies. Learning about their structures and functions gives us insight into how our amazing bodies operate.
Tissue Types and Functions
Four main tissue types
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Covers body surfaces (skin), lines cavities and ducts, forms glands ()
Tightly packed cells with little intercellular space enables protection and secretion
Avascular but innervated, regenerates quickly after injury
Supports, protects, binds other tissues together (, )
Abundant with widely spaced cells allows for diverse functions
Includes , , (ears, joints), (energy storage)
Specialized for contraction and movement
Contains elongated cells called arranged in parallel
Three types: skeletal (voluntary movement), cardiac (heart), (intestines, blood vessels)
Specialized for generating and conducting electrical impulses
Composed of (nerve cells) and supporting
Found in , , , enables communication and coordination
Functions of major tissues
functions
Protection from abrasion, dehydration, chemical damage (skin, lining of organs)
Absorption of substances across cell membranes (intestinal lining)
Secretion of products such as hormones (), enzymes (digestive glands), lubricants ()
Connective tissue functions
Structural support for organs and the body as a whole (bones, cartilage)
Storage of energy reserves in the form of fat (adipose tissue)
Transport of nutrients, waste, gases via blood and lymph ()
Muscle tissue functions
Generating force and movement by contracting and relaxing
Maintaining posture and stabilizing joints ()
Producing heat through cellular metabolism to maintain body temperature
Nervous tissue functions
Receiving and processing sensory information from internal and external stimuli
Initiating and coordinating appropriate body responses (muscle contraction, glandular secretion)
Storing memories and enabling learning, cognition, consciousness (brain)
Tissue structure and physiology
Epithelial tissue structure and function
Simple epithelium with single cell layer enables rapid absorption (intestines) and filtration (kidneys)