Types of Tissues

Lesson 02
The term tissue is used to describe a group of cells that are similar in
structure and perform a specific function

Histology is the the field of study that involves the microscopic

examination of tissue appearance, organization, and function.

Tissues are organized into four broad categories based on structural

and functional similarities.
The Four Primary Tissue Types
Epithelial tissue refers to groups of cells that cover the exterior surfaces of
the body, line internal cavities and passageways, and form certain glands

Connective tissue, as its name implies, binds the cells and organs of the
body together.

Muscle tissue contracts forcefully when excited, providing movement.

Nervous tissue is also excitable, allowing for the generation and propagation
of electrochemical signals in the form of nerve impulses that communicate
between different regions of the body
Embryonic Origin of Tissues
After fertilization The egg and sperm produce a zygote .
The zygote gives rise to many cell to form an embryo .
The first embryonic cells generated have the ability to
differentiate into any type of cell in the body and, as
such, are called omnipotent, meaning each has the
capacity to divide, differentiate, and develop into a new
organism
As cell continues to grow and multiply , three major
cell lines are established within the embryo. Each of
these lines of embryonic cells forms the distinct germ
layers from which all the tissues and organs of the
human body eventually form. Each germ layer is
identified by its relative position: ectoderm (ecto- =
“outer”), mesoderm (meso- = “middle”), and
endoderm (endo- = “inner”)
Tissue Membranes
• a thin layer or sheet of cells that either covers the outside of the body
(e.g., skin), lines an internal body cavity (e.g., peritoneal cavity), lines
a vessel (e.g., blood vessel), or lines a movable joint cavity (e.g.,
synovial joint).

• Two basic types of tissue membranes are recognized based on the

primary tissue type composing each: connective tissue membranes
and epithelial membranes
The two broad categories of tissue
membranes in the body are
(1) connective tissue membranes,
which include synovial membranes,
and
(2) epithelial membranes, which
include mucous membranes, serous
membranes, and the cutaneous
membrane, in other words, the skin.
Connective Tissue Membranes
• built entirely of connective tissue
• This type of membrane may be found encapsulating an organ, such as
the kidney, or lining the cavity of a freely movable joint (e.g.,
shoulder).
• When lining a joint, this membrane is referred to as a synovial
membrane
• Cells in the inner layer of the synovial membrane release synovial
fluid, a natural lubricant that enables the bones of a joint to move
freely against one another with reduced friction.
Epithelial Membranes
• composed of an epithelial layer attached to a layer of connective
tissue.
 Epithelial
membranes

Mucous membrane Serous

Cutaneous membrane
membrane
• Also known as mucosa • lines the cavities of the • a multi-layered
• lines a body cavity or body that do not open membrane composed
hollow passageway that to the external of epithelial and
is open to the external environment connective tissues
environment • Contains cells that • The apical surface of
• can be found lining secretes Serous Fluid this membrane exposed
portions of the that lubricates the to the external
digestive, respiratory, membrane and reduces environment and is
excretory, and abrasion and friction covered with dead
reproductive tracts between organs • Example is skin
• Contains cells that
produce mucus
• Appears as large sheets of cells covering all surfaces of the body
exposed to the external environment and lining internal body cavities
• responsible for forming a majority of glandular tissue found in the
human body.
• Epithelial tissue is derived from all three major embryonic layers
Ectoderm cutaneous membrane
mesoderm endothelium
Endoderm mucous membrane
Epithelial Tissue Function:
• provide the body’s first line of protection from physical, chemical, and
biological damage
• the cells of an epithelium act as gatekeepers of the body, controlling
permeability by allowing selective transfer of materials across its
surface
Epithelial tissue is classified
based on the shape of the
cells present and the
number of cell layers
present.
 Types of
Epithelium

Simple Stratified
Epithelium Epithelium

Stratified stratified
squamous columnar
Simple Simple Cubiodal epithelium
epithelium
Squamous

Pseudostratified Stratified
Simple Columnar columnar cuboidal transitional
epithelium epithelium epithelium
All connective tissues contains 3 important things : Cells, Ground
Substance and protein Fibers

• they support and connect other tissues; from the connective tissue sheath
that surrounds a muscle, to the tendons that attach muscles to bones, and
to the skeleton that supports the positions of the body
• Protection
• specialized cells in connective tissue defend the body from microorganisms
that enter the body
• Transport of materials
• Storage
Embryonic Connective Tissue
• All connective tissues derive from the mesodermal layer of the
embryo
• The first connective tissue to develop in the embryo is mesenchyme.
This is also where new connective tissue in adults will arise’
• A second type of embryonic connective tissue forms in the umbilical
cord, called mucous connective tissue or Wharton’s jelly. This tissue is
no longer present after birth, leaving only scattered mesenchymal
cells throughout the body.
Cell Types
Each class of connective tissue is formed by fundamental cell types. The
cells can be found in both an active form (suffix –blast), where they are
dividing and secreting the components of ground substance, and an in-
active form (suffix –cyte)

- fibroblast - adipocytes
- osteoblast - macrophage
- chondroblast - mast cell
 Connective Tissue Fibers and Ground Substance
Three main types of fibers are secreted by fibroblasts: collagen fibers,
elastic fibers, and reticular fibers.
Collagen fiber reticular fiber elastic fiber
- made from fibrous protein - formed from the same protein - contains the protein elastin
subunits linked together to form subunits as collagen fibers, along with lesser amounts of
a long, straight fiber however, these fibers remain other proteins and
- Collagen fibers, while flexible, narrow and are arranged in a glycoproteins
have great tensile strength, branching network - Elastic fibers are prominent in
resist stretching, and give - they anchor and provide elastic tissues found in skin, the
ligaments and tendons their structural support to walls of large blood vessels, and
characteristic resilience. the parenchyma (the functional in a few ligaments which
cells, blood vessels, and nerves support the spine.
of the organ).
Classification of Connective Tissues
1. Connective Tissue Proper
• Fibroblasts are present in all connective tissue proper
• fibrocytes, adipocytes, and mesenchymal cells are fixed cells,
which means they remain within the connective tissue
• Macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and
phagocytic cells are found in connective tissue proper but are
actually part of the immune system protecting the body
 1.1 Loose Connective Tissue
• Loose connective tissue is found between many organs where it acts
both to absorb shock and bind tissues together
• allows water, salts, and various nutrients to diffuse through to
adjacent or imbedded cells and tissues.
1.1.3 Reticular tissue
1.1.1 Adipose tissue 1.1.2 Areolar tissue
- mesh-like, supportive framework
- fat storage cells, with little - most widely distributed
for soft organs such as lymphatic
extracellular matrix connective tissue in the body
tissue, the spleen, and the liver
- 2 types : White Adipose and - fills the spaces between muscle
- form the network onto which
Brown Adipose fibers, surrounds blood and
other cells attach.
lymph vessels, and supports
- from the Latin reticulus, which
organs in the abdominal cavity
means “little net.”
1.2 Dense Connective Tissue
• contains more collagen fibers than does loose connective
• it displays greater resistance to stretching and a higher tensile
strength
1.2.1 Regular
- fibers are parallel to each other, enhancing
tensile strength and resistance to stretching in
the direction of the fiber orientations.
- Ligaments and tendons

1.2.2 Irregular
- arrangement of proteins fibers is irregular
and lacks the uniformity seen in dense
regular
- Example : Dermis of the Skin
 2. Supportive Connective Tissues
2.1 Cartilage
- distinctive appearance of cartilage is due to
polysaccharides called chondroitin sulfates, which bind
with ground substance proteins to form proteoglycans.
2.1.1 Hyaline the most common type of cartilage
2.1.2 Fibrocartilage is tough because it has thick bundles
of collagen fibers dispersed through its matrix
2.1.3 Elastic cartilage contains elastic fibers as well as
collagen and proteoglycans. This tissue provides support as
well as elasticity
2.2 Bone
- the hardest connective tissue. It provides protection to
internal organs and supports the body.
- Bone’s rigid extracellular matrix contains mostly
collagen fibers embedded in a mineralized ground
substance containing hydroxyapatite, a form of calcium
phosphate
- Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide
little support
- The mature bone cells, osteocytes, are located within
lacunae.
- Bone is a highly vascularized tissue. Unlike cartilage,
bone tissue can recover from injuries in a relatively
short time.
3. Fluid Connective Tissue
• Cells circulate in a liquid extracellular matrix. The formed elements
circulating in blood are all derived from hematopoietic stem cells
located in bone marrow

3.1 Blood 3.2 Lymph

- contains the fluid plasma and the - contains a liquid matrix and white
formed elements : RBC, WBC and blood cells.
platelets
-
• characterized by properties that allow movement
• Muscle cells are excitable; they respond to a stimulus.
• They are contractile, meaning they can shorten and generate a pulling force
• Muscle tissue is classified into three types according to structure and function: skeletal, cardiac, and
smooth
Skeletal muscle
- its contraction makes possible
locomotion
- Muscle cells are called
Myocytes
- The muscle cell, or myocyte,
develops from myoblasts
derived from the mesoderm
- muscle cells appear striated
with many nuclei squeezed
along the membranes
Cardiac muscle
- forms the contractile walls of the
heart
- The cells of cardiac muscle, known
as cardiomyocytes, also appear
striated under the microscope.
- Cardiomyocytes attach to one
another with specialized cell
junctions called intercalated discs
Smooth muscle
- tissue contraction is responsible
for involuntary movements in the
internal organs.
- It forms the contractile
component of the digestive,
urinary, and reproductive systems
as well as the airways and blood
vessels
• Characterized as being excitable and capable of sending and receiving
electrochemical signals that provide the body with information.
• Two main classes of cells make up nervous tissue:
the neuron and neuroglia

Neurons - made up of three parts ; Cell body , dendrite and Axon. It

functions for transmission of nerve impulses.
Neuroglia – also known as glial cells which have been characterized as
having a simple support role. The word “glia” comes from the Greek
word for glue