Austin Sebastian

STEM 12-2 HEA

FOUR TYPES OF TISSUE

 Epithelial tissue
Epithelial tissues are thin tissues that cover all the
exposed surfaces of the body. They form the
external skin, the inner lining of the mouth, digestive
tract, secretory glands, the lining of hollow parts of
every organ such as the heart, lungs, eyes, ears, the
urogenital tract, as well as the ventricular system of
the brain and central canals of the spinal cord.

The cells making up epithelia are often closely bound to

one another through specialized structures called tight
junctions. They are also free from blood vessels and
nerves and are supported by a connective tissue called
the basement membrane. They have polarity with a
distinct basal domain facing the basement membrane
and the other apical surface facing the lumen of an
organ or the external environment.

o Function
Epithelial tissue has a number of functions, which include protection
against abrasion, radiation damage, chemical stress and invasion
by pathogens. A single organ can have different types of epithelial
tissue based on the substances to which different surfaces are
exposed. Protective tissue tends to be thicker, made of multiple
layers of cells and often has inclusions such as keratin to provide
mechanical strength and resistance. The skin of most mammals
contains layers of thick keratinized dead epithelial cells protecting
them against water loss and other stresses. Similarly, the
esophagus is also exposed to a wide range of different textures, pH
levels and chemical compositions from food and drink. Therefore, it
also contains protective epithelium. Due to its involvement in the
digestive process, however, it remains non-keratinized, and
secretes mucus to smoothen the passage of food.
 Muscle Tissue
Muscle tissue is composed of cells that have the
special ability to shorten or contract in order to produce
movement of the body parts. The tissue is highly
cellular and is well supplied with blood vessels. The
cells are long and slender so they are sometimes called
muscle fibers, and these are usually arranged in
bundles or layers that are surrounded by connective
tissue. Actin and myosin are contractile proteins in
muscle tissue.
o Function
The main function of the muscular system is
movement. Muscles are the only tissue in the body
that has the ability to contract and therefore move
the other parts of the body. Related to the function
of movement is the muscular system's second
function: the maintenance of posture and body
position.
 Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is the term for groups of organized cells
in the nervous system, which is the organ system that
controls the body’s movements, sends and carries
signals to and from the different parts of the body, and
has a role in controlling bodily functions such as
digestion. Nervous tissue is grouped into two main
categories: neurons and neuroglia. Neurons, or nerves,
transmit electrical impulses, while neuroglia do not;
neuroglia have many other functions including
supporting and protecting neurons.
o Function
Nervous tissue makes up the nervous system. The nervous system
is subdivided in several overlapping ways. The central nervous
system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord, which
coordinates information from all areas of the body and sends nerve
impulses that control all bodily movements. The peripheral nervous
system (PNS) consists of peripheral nerves that branch all
throughout the body. It connects the CNS to the rest of the body
and is directly responsible for controlling movements of specific
parts of the body; for example, just before arm movement the CNS
sends nerve impulses to the PNS nerves in the arm, which causes
the arm to move.

Another subdivision of the nervous system is into the sympathetic

nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system
(PSNS). The SNS activates in order to stimulate a fight-or-flight
response in an organism when that organism encounters a threat
and must decide whether to fight or flee from it. The nerves of the
SNS have diverse effects on different parts of the body. Activation
of the SNS causes the pupils of the eyes to dilate, inhibits
digestion, increases sweat secretion, and increases the heart rate.
Conversely, the PSNS is activated during moments of “rest and
digest”, when an organism is not facing an immediate threat.
Nerves of the PSNS work to stimulate activities that can occur at
rest such as digestion, waste excretion, and sexual arousal, and
they also decrease the heart rate.
 Connective Tissue
Connective tissue, group of tissues in the body that
maintain the form of the body and its organs and
provide cohesion and internal support. The connective
tissues include several types of fibrous tissue that vary
only in their density and cellularity, as well as the more
specialized and recognizable variants of bone,
ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and adipose (fat) tissue.
o Functions
Major functions of connective tissue include: 1)
binding and supporting, 2) protecting, 3) insulating,
4) storing reserve fuel, and 5) transporting
substances within the body. Connective tissues
can have various levels of vascularity. Cartilage is
avascular, while dense connective tissue is poorly
vascularized.