Body Tissues

© 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Human Body Systems

Tissue Basics• Tissues are groups of cells that are

similar in structure that work together to perform a specific function.

• There are four main tissue types:– Epithelium– Connective tissue– Muscle – Nervous tissue

Epithelium• Epithelium, or epithelial tissue, forms the

linings, coverings, and glandular tissue of the body. – One type of epithelium forms the outer layer

of the skin– Another type of epithelium lines the air sacs of

the lungs

• Cells in epithelium are packed tightly together to form continuous sheets

Connective Tissue• Connective tissue protects, supports, and binds

together other body tissues. • Connective tissue is made up of different types

of cells in varying amounts of a nonliving substance around the cells, called the matrix.

• Examples of connective tissue include:– Bone– Cartilage– Adipose tissue (fat)– Blood

Muscle Tissue• Muscle tissue is specialized to contract

and cause movement.

• There are three main types of muscle tissue:– Skeletal muscle– Cardiac muscle– Smooth muscle

• Can you guess the location and function of each muscle type?

Nervous Tissue• Nervous tissue is composed of specialized cells

called neurons that receive and send electrical signals in the body.

• Nervous tissue responds to stimuli and transmits impulses and together with supporting cells, makes up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.