UNIT 4: TISSUE: CELL SPECIALIZATION

Growth is one of the criteria for differentiating

between living and non-living things. Growth begins
to occur when a cell in the living things increases in
size or number. Individual cells do not increase in
size very much even when it is mature. Almost all
cells are microscope in size. Therefore, growth
involves an increase in the number of cells.
When living things grow, they become more
complex. The cells become organized into tissues to
perform different life activities. Four basics tissues:
epithelium, connective, muscular, and nervous
tissue.
The epithelial is the outer layer of skin. Epithelium
forms glands and lines organs inside the body.
The connective tissue connects other tissue to each
other and to the bones of the skeleton. The skeleton
protects and supports the body. The skeleton is built
of a special type of connective tissue. Another type
of connective tissue produces blood cells.
The muscles make possible all of the movements
necessary for life activities. Muscle tissue is
composed of long, thin tissues, fibers, which can
contract and relax. The connective tissues connect
muscle cells to the bones.

The nervous tissues are composed of the brain,

spinal cord, and nerves. Nerve cells receive stimuli
outside and inside the body. They conduct these
stimuli to the brain and spinal cord. In a response,
impulses are sent to muscles and glands. This causes
muscles to contract and glands to secrete or stop
secreting fluids.

Some small cells are organized into a group are

called tissue. Several different types of tissue
organized into a group are called organs. A group of
organs works together to perform a function, that
forms the system. The nervous system, composed of
the brain, spinal cord, and nerves is the most
complex system in our body.