Tissue Basics and Four Main Tissue Types

Vocabulary review covering the definition of tissues and the structure, function, types, and locations of epithelial, connective, nervous, and muscle tissues.

Tissues

Groups of cells that are similar in structure that work together to perform a specific function.

Four main tissue types

Epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Epithelial tissue

Tissue whose cells are packed tightly together to form continuous sheets (sometimes stacked) to perform protection, secretion, and absorption; it forms the linings, coverings, and glandular tissue of the body.

Matrix

The nonliving substance found in varying amounts around the different types of cells in connective tissue.

Connective tissue

Tissue made up of different types of cells in varying amounts of matrix that protects, supports, binds together other body tissues, transports material, and connects the body chemically and physically.

Examples of connective tissue

Bone, cartilage, adipose tissue (fat), and blood.

Neurons

Long stringy specialized cells in nervous tissue that receive and send electrical signals in the body.

Nervous tissue

Tissue composed of neurons that responds to stimuli and transmits impulses across long distances; makes up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Muscle tissue

Tissue composed of long, packed-together cells containing bands of proteins that work together to contract, cause movement, and produce heat.

Skeletal muscle

A type of muscle tissue that is attached to bone and is voluntary.

Cardiac muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in the heart that is involuntary.

Smooth muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in hollow organs that is involuntary.

Tissues

Groups of cells that are similar in structure that work together to perform a specific function.

Four main tissue types

The four primary classifications of body tissues: epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Epithelial tissue

Tissue that forms the linings, coverings, and glandular tissue of the body, functioning in protection, secretion, and absorption.

Connective tissue

Tissue made up of different types of cells in varying amounts of nonliving matrix that protects, supports, binds together other body tissues, transports material, and connects the body chemically and physically.

Matrix

The nonliving substance surrounding different types of cells within connective tissue.

Examples of connective tissue

Bone, cartilage, adipose tissue (fat), and blood.

Neurons

Long, stringy specialized cells in nervous tissue that receive and send electrical signals in the body.

Nervous tissue

Tissue that responds to stimuli and transmits impulses across long distances, making up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Muscle tissue

Tissue composed of long, packed cells containing bands of proteins that is specialized to contract, cause movement, and produce heat.

Skeletal muscle

A type of muscle tissue attached to bone that is voluntary.

Cardiac muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in the heart that is involuntary.

Smooth muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in hollow organs that is involuntary.