5/3/2021

Body Tissues
The human body, complex as it is, starts out a single
cell, the fertilized egg, which divides almost endlessly.
The millions of cells that result become specialized for
particular functions.

Tissues - a group of cells that are similar in structure and function.

The Four Primary Tissue Types:

1. Epithelial (covering)
2. Connective (support)
3. Muscle (movement)
4. Nervous (control)

1. Epithelial Tissue
Epithelium is the lining, covering and glandular tissue
of the body. Covering and lining epithelium covers all
free body surfaces both inside and out, and contains
versatile cells.

Epithelial functions include:

• Protection
• Absorption
• Filtration
• Secretion

1
 5/3/2021

Hallmarks of Epithelium:
 Specialized cell binds
adjacent cells together.

 Polarity; has apical, basal,

and lateral surfaces.
 Rests on a basement
membrane.
 Avascular has no blood
supply of their own.

 Regenerate easil.y

2
 5/3/2021

Classification of Epithelia
› Number of layers of cells
– Simple- one layer of cells; each extends from
basement membrane to the free surface
– Stratified- more than one layer.
– Pseudostratified- tissue appears to be stratified, but
all cells contact basement membrane so it is in fact
simple
› Shape of cells
– Squamous- flat, scale-like
– Cuboidal- about equal in height and width
– Columnar- taller than wide

3
 5/3/2021

Simple Epithelia › more concerned with absorption, secretion,

and filtration.
› because they are very thin, protection is
not one of their specialties.

4
5/3/2021

5
 5/3/2021

Stratified Epithelia › two or more cell layers.

› more durable than simple epithelia;
function primarily in protection.

Stratified Cuboidal & Columnar

Epithelia
 Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Has two or mare cell layers with the surfaces
are being cuboidal in shape.
 Stratified columnar epithelium
Columnar cells, but its basal cell vary in size and
shape.

› Both epithelia are fairly rare in the body,

found mainly in the ducts of large glands.

6
 5/3/2021

Glandular Epithelium
A gland consists of one or more cells that make and
secrete a particular product.
Secretion – contains protein molecules in an
aqueous fluid.

Two types of glands develop from epithelial sheets:

1. Endocrine glands: they are often called ductless
glands; their secretion (all hormones) diffuses directly
into the blood vessels. (e.g., thyroid, adrenals,
pituitary and etc.)
2. Exocrine glands: open to exterior of body via
ducts (e.g., sweat glands, oil glands, liver, and
pancreas)

7
 5/3/2021

2. ConnectiveTissue
Connects body parts; found everywhere in the body.
It is most abundant and wide distributed of the
tissue types.
Connective tissue function: Hallmarks of Connective Tissue:
• Protection  Variation in blood supply most
• Support connective tissue are well
• Binding vascularized, but there are
exceptions.
 Connective tissue are made
up of may different type of
cells.
 Extracellular matrix- nonliving
substance found outside the
cells.

Connective Tissue Cells

 Fibroblasts - secrete the proteins needed for fiber synthesis and
components of the extracellular matrix.
 Adipose or fat cells (adipocytes) - common in some tissues (e.g.,
dermis of skin).
 Mast cells - common beneath membranes; along small blood vessels;
release heparin, histamine, and proteolytic enzymes in response to
injury.
 Leukocytes (WBC’s) - respond to injury or infection
 Macrophages - derived from monocytes (WBC). Phagocytic;
provide protection.
 Chondroblasts – form cartilage.
 Osteoblasts - form bone.
 Hematopoietic stem cells - form blood cells.

8
 5/3/2021

Extracellular Matrix
The matrix is produced by the connective
tissue cells and then secreted to their
exterior.
It has two main elements:
1. Ground substance –structureless
material that fills the space between
cells.
2. Fibers – collagen, elastic, or reticular.

Ground Substance
› Interstitial (tissue) fluid within which are one or
more of the molecules listed below:
• Hyaluronic acid: a polysaccharide. Very slippery; serves as
a good lubricant for joints. Common in most connective tissues.
• Proteoglycans: protein and polysaccharide complex.
Polysaccharides called glyocosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate,
keratin sulfate). Protein part attaches to hyaluronic acid. Able to trap
large amounts of water.
• Adhesive molecules: hold proteoglycan aggregates together.
Chondronectin in cartilage, osteonectin in bone, fibronectin in
fibrous connective tissue.

› Functions as a molecular sieve through which nutrients

diffuse between blood capillaries and cells.

9
 5/3/2021

Protein fibers
› Collagen fibers. Composed of the protein
collagen. Strong, flexible, inelastic; great tensile
strength (e.g., resist stretch).
• Perfect for tendons, ligaments
› Elastic fibers. Contain molecules of protein elastin
that resemble coiled springs. Returns to its original
shape after stretching or compression.
• Perfect for lungs, large blood vessels
› Reticular fibers. Formed from fine collagenous
fibers; form branching networks (stroma). Fill spaces
between tissues and organs.

Major Connective Tissue

1. Bone
2. Cartilage
3. Dense Connective Tissue
4. Loose Connective Tissue
5. Blood

10
 5/3/2021

Bone

Cartilage › less hard & more flexible than bone

› its major cell type is chondrocytes
› only few in the body

11
5/3/2021

12
 5/3/2021

Dense Connective Tissue

Loose Connective Tissue

13
5/3/2021

14
 5/3/2021

Blood › Vascular tissue consists of blood

cells & blood plasma.

3. Muscle Tissue
› Characteristics
 Cells are referred to as fibers.
 Contracts or shortens with force when
stimulated.
 Moves entire body and pumps blood.

› Muscle Types:
1. Skeletal: attached to bones
2. Cardiac: muscle of the heart
3. Smooth: non-striated and involuntary

15
5/3/2021

16
 5/3/2021

4. Nervous Tissue › Functional characteristics are

irritability & conductivity.

17
 5/3/2021

Reference
1. Marieb EN, Keller SM. (2017) Essentials of Human
Anatomy & Physiology, 12th ed. Pearson Education. ISBN
9780134395326

18