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