Tissues

What are tissues?

• A group of cells which are similar in structure
and perform a specific function are termed as
tissues.
• eg. Muscle tissue, Nervous tissue, Blood etc
Types of Tissue

Plant Tissue Animal Tissue

 TISSUES

Plant Animal
Tissues Tissues

Meristematic Permanent
Tissues Tissues

Protective Supportive Conducting /

Tissues Tissues complex Tissues

Parenchyma Xylem
Collenchyma Phloem
Sclerenchyma
1. Meristematic Tissue
• actively dividing cells
• cells have a large nucleus
and no vacuoles
• Location: found at the
growing parts of plant eg.
root tip, shoot tip, nodes
• Function: elongation of
shoot and root, increase in
the diameter of the stem /
bark

https://youtu.be/lLnjo4Pf2J
M
Types of meristematic tissues based on their location
in the plant body

1.Apical meristem : Present in root

and shoot tip. It divides in different
planes and helps to increase in
length.
2.Intercalary meristem: Located at
the base of internode or leaf. It helps
in elongation of plant body.
3.Lateral meristem: Present on lateral
side of the plant body. It helps to
increase the thickness or girth of the
plant.
 PERMANENT TISSUE
https://youtu.be/xSYLJIR6cGY

• The cells of this tissue have lost their ability to multiply

and acquire a definite shape, size and function

• These tissues may be living or dead

• There are 3 types of permanent tissues based on the

function performed:

1.PROTECTIVE TISSUE

1.SUPPORTING TISSUE

1.CONDUCTING TISSUE
 Protective Tissue
• Characteristic: Cells with thick
walls

• Location: Found on the

outermost layer of plant body
such as roots, stems and leaves

• Function: Prevents water loss

from the leaves
• Protects underlying tissues

• Example:

– Epidermis of leaves- secretes a

waxy water proof material

– Cork cells in the bark

 Supporting Tissue

• Three important types are

– Parenchyma

– Collenchyma

– Sclerenchyma
 PARENCHYMA

● The cells are thin walled usually with a single large

vacuole

● The cells are living

● Location: Found in soft parts of the plant root and stem

● Function ranging from storage of food

● Some cells contain chloroplast

 COLLENCHYMA

1.Cells are elongated and thick at corners

1.Found in leaf stalks and below the epidermis of stems

1.Function is to provide support and flexibility to parts of plant

 SCLERENCHYMA

1.Cells are long, narrow and thick walled due to deposition of

lignin

1.The cells are dead

1.Found in stems, veins of leaves, hard covering of seeds &

nuts

1.Also found in the gritty part of the ripe fruits & contribute
hardness to the seed coat & nutshells.

1.Function is to provide strength to parts of plant

 CONDUCTING TISSUE (VASCULAR TISSUE)
XYLEM PHLOEM
1. Function • Transport of water from • Transport of food leaves
roots to all parts of plant to various parts of plant

2. • Consist of: • Consists of:

Composition a)Tracheids a)Sieve tubes
b)Xylem vessels b)Companion cells
c)Xylem parenchyma c)Phloem parenchyma
d)Phloem fibres
• Cells except for xylem • Cells are living except for
parenchyma are dead phloem fibres
•Xylem and phloem are found in the veins of leaf, stem and root

• They constitute complex tissue

Conducting tissues
 Recap

Protective tissue
Supportive tissue
 ANIMAL TISSUES
• There are four main
type of animal
tissues:
1. Epithelial tissue
2. Connective tissue
3. Muscle tissue
4. Nervous tissue

The microscopic study of cells and tissue type is called

Histology
Epithelial tissue

• Thin, closely packed, continuous sheet of cells

• Location: Outermost layer of skin, lines the

cavities and surfaces of internal organs
• Shape: flat, cuboidal or columnar

• Function: Protection (radiation, germs),

absorption (nutrient), secretion (sweat)
Epithelial tissues are categories depending
on their structure (extra information)
 MUSCULAR TISSUE

• Muscular tissue is a contractile tissue made up

of muscle cells
• Description: elongated cells called muscle
fibres
• Ability to contract and relax

• Function: movement and locomotion of body

Types of Muscle tissue
 Striated muscles
• Also known as voluntary, striped or skeletal muscles
• Structure: elongated, cylindrical and unbranched
muscle fibres
• Multinucleated
• Alternate light and dark striations
• Location: muscles of arms, legs,
neck, face, diaphragm etc

• Function: Movement and locomotion

Muscles undergo rapid contractions which are
voluntary
These muscles get tired and need rest
 Unstriated muscles
• Also known as involuntary, smooth or visceral muscles.
• Structure: long, narrow, spindle shaped and tapering
towards the end
• Uninucleated
• Smooth with NO striations

• Location: iris of the eye, lining of blood vessels,

intestine, urinary bladder, uterus
• Function: Involuntary movements (passage of food)
Muscles undergo slow contractions which are
involuntary
These muscles do not get tired
 Cardiac muscles
• Also known as heart muscles.
• Structure: short, striated and branched muscle fibres
• Location: Only in walls of the heart
• Function: pumping of blood throughout the body
Muscles undergo continuous involuntary rhythmic
contractions and relaxations throughout life
These muscles do not get tired
 Connective tissue
The connective tissue is specialized to connect and
anchor various body organs.
• Structure: 3 characteristics
1. Abundant matrix
2. Fewer cellular elements
3. Fibres
• Location: between different tissues and organs
• Function: binding,supporting and packing
together different organs of the body
 Areolar connective tissue (packing)
• It is the simplest and most widely distributed connective
tissue.
• Structure: It is a loose and cellular connective tissue. Its
matrix consists of two kinds of fibres
• Location: All over in the body, fills spaces between the
organs, around muscles, blood vessels and nerves.
• Functions :
1) Binds various tissues together
2) Makes skin elastic
3) Helps to withstand pulling strain
 Adipose (fat) tissue
• Description: Specialised cells (adipocytes) that store fat
• Location: below the skin, around organs like kidneys,
heart, eye ball etc
• Function:
1. It serves as a fat reservoir.
2. It provides shape to the limbs
and body.
3. It acts an insulator and conserves
body temperature.
 Fibrous connective tissue
Fibrous connective tissue is characterized by ordered and
densely packed collection of fibres

Ligament
connect bone
to bone
 Supportive connective tissue
The skeletal or supporting tissue includes Cartilage and bone
which forms the endoskeleton of the vertebrate body.
Cartilage Bone
1. It is non-porous and flexible 1. It is a porous and non- flexible
2. It has thickened matrix 2. It has solid calcified matrix
3. It has no blood vessels or 3. It has good supply of blood
nerves vessels and nerves
4. Located at the tip of nose, 4. Forms supportive framework of
external part of ear the body. (limbs, skull, ribcage)
between vertebrae & end of
5. It protects vital organs such as
long bones
brains, heart,lungs etc.
5. It provides flexibility to the
body parts
CARTILAGE

BONE
 Fluid connective tissue
Blood Lymph
1. Composed of plasma + 1. It is a colourless fluid that
RBC’s, WBC’s and platelets composes of plasma +WBC’s
2. Flows through arteries, 2. It is present in lymph vessels all
veins and capillaries over the body
3. Transports nutrients, 3. It brings CO2 and nitrogenous
hormones and O2 to tissues wastes from tissue fluid to blood.
and organs

Both blood and lymph protect the body against

infections (provide immunity). It forms the
defence system of the body.
 Neural tissue
• Description: Consists of specialised elongated
cells called neurons or nerve cells

• Location: nervous system of the body (brain,

spinal cord and nerves

• Function: conduction of nerve impulse and

response to stimuli
 Structure of Neuron
• 3 distinct parts:
1. Cyton / perikaryon or cell
body
2. Dendron
3. Axon or nerve fibre

❑ Cyton contains the nucleus,

granular cytoplasm
❑ Dendrons are short
cytoplasmic extensions arising
from the cyton & further
branch into dendrites

❑ Axons are long, cylindrical

cytoplasmic extensions which
form fine branches terminally

The Dendrites receive impulses

and the axon takes impulses
away from the cell body
SUMMARY