Welcome to the site that will help you prepare for the
“Name the Tissue and its Function” game.
Questions to remember while you are practicing:
a. What is the tissue type?
b. What is its function?
c. How does its structure relate to its function?
Bonus points will be given to those who can guess the
tissue type and the location without using any clues- so use
these images and the information in your textbook to study!!
The four basic tissue types and their
particular functions:
Muscle: used for contraction, to cause movement
Epithelial: used for interior or exterior linings of organs
Connective: used for support, storage or transport
Nerve: used to pick up and transmit impulses
Practice Quiz: Go here to see if you’ve mastered the information!
Muscle tissue: has the ability to contract. It is used for
movement, or support.
There are two classes of muscle, based on their appearance:
a. Striated muscle- appears to be striped, or striated.
There are two types within this group:
Skeletal: multinucleate, under voluntary control
used to move bones
Cardiac: involuntary control, branched,
multinucleate, found in the heart, used to
pump blood.
b. Smooth, lacks the striations, tends to be tapered or
spindle-shaped. This type of cell is used for
involuntary muscle contractions and can be found in
the digestive, circulatory, respiratory systems
Muscle cells have the ability to contract, or get shorter and relax
or go back to their resting length.
1
2
3
They do this by having fibers that can
slide past each other to shorten their length.
To go back to their original position to
relax the muscle, the fibers slide back.
Actual images of human muscle cells:
Skeletal Muscle:
very straight,long,
even rows of cells,
more than one
nucleus, regular
striping (striations)
Cardiac Muscle, branched
cells, more than one nucleus,
striations are not as easy to
see as on skeletal.
Smooth Muscle: spindle-shaped cells, no striations. Used to
control the dilation or constriction of
tubes in the respiratory,
circulatory, reproductive and
digestive systems.
***Be careful not to confuse
squamous epithelial with
smooth muscle tissues. ****
Squamous epithelial has irregular
cell shape, and when in a tissue is
usually in very thin layers
Epithelial: Structure and function
Epithelial cells function to line and/or protect parts of the body.
They can be in one layer- called simple, or multiple or
modified layers termed stratified
Squamous: when in one layer they allow some material to leak pastthey are found lining areas that need to be thin and
‘leaky’ like the walls of capillaries.
In multiple layers they are found in places that
need protection from abrasion. The top layer
can be rubbed away without damaging the lower
layers.
Cuboidal: cells specialized for lining tubes used for secretion found
in many glands and the linings of the kidney tubules.
They can be in one layer to line small areas, and can
be tightly joined to keep material in or out.
Columnar: Columnar epithelial is found lining areas where
secretion or active absorption is an important
function. This type of tissue can be found in the
linings of the lungs and digestive track. They can be
tightly joined to only allow selective materials to
pass through the structures they line.
They can also have modifications like cilia to help
move materials in the structures they line.
These are pictures from actual human tissue samples,
Magnification 400x
Images of the three examples of simple epithelia:
Columnar:
found lining
the
respiratory
track
Squamous: found lining
the capillaries
Cuboidal: found lining
ducts in a salivary
gland
Columnar epithelial:
Columnar epithelial is found where secretion or active
absorption is an important function, so it is found in the linings of
the lungs and digestive track.
Note the rectangular shape of these cells, match the
illustration to the correct cells in the tissue.
Cuboidal epithelial cells specialized for secretion are found in
many glands and the linings in the kidney tubules.
Note the row of cells
with the cube-like shape, match the sketch with the row
of cells in the tissue.
Simple squamous cells line areas that need
to be thin and ‘leaky’, this is where
exchange of materials needs to occurin the linings of blood vessels and
air sacs in the lungs.
Stratified squamous occurs in the
skin, and the lining of the
stomach where layers are
continuously shed.
Connective tissue:
This is a diverse group of tissues whose
functions vary from binding together, support, and
protect the other types of tissues found in your body.
Some of these tissues store or transport materials necessary for
your body to function
Each one of these tissues are composed of living cells and a
non-living matrix that helps it perform its job.
Bone
Loose
Cartilage,
tendons
Adipose (fat)
Blood
Bone: used for support and storage of minerals
Living cells
Non -living matrix
Living cells
Cartilage, tendons and ligaments:
used for support and protection
Living cells
Non -living matrix
Adipose (fat): used for energy
storage, protection and insulation
Non -living matrix
Non -living matrix (plasma)
Blood: used for transport and
protection
Living cells
Actual slides of human
connective tissues:
Non -living matrix
Bone: notice dense matrix which
gives strength and stores minerals
Living cells
Living cells
Adipose (fat): notice large open
areas where fat can be stored
Non -living matrix- where fat is stored
Cartilage, tendons and ligaments:
used for support and protection
Living cells
Dense connective: helps reduce friction
at joints, strong to help protect the
ends of bones
Non -living matrix: dense to give support
or help protect
Non -living matrix
Loose connective tissue:
used for support and holding tissues
together while keeping some flexibility,
attaches skin to muscle.
Living cells
Blood: used for transport of nutrients
and wastes to and from body organs as well as protection from
infecting pathogens
Non -living matrix (plasma) is
fluid to help transport material
Living cells:
Red blood cells:
Carry respiratory gassesoxygen and carbon dioxide
White blood cells: fight infection
Nervous tissue: transmits messages by
carrying electrical impulses over neurons or nerve cells
Nerve cells are made up of:
Synaptic ends: transmits impulse
to next cell in line.
Axon: long thin, carries
impulse over distances
Cell body: contains
nucleus
Dendrites: branched to
pick-up impulses
The next part of this site is to test your knowledge by
naming the tissue in the picture and explaining how its structure
helps its function.
Next to the image of the tissue sample are the two questions you
will need to answer in the “Cells and Tissue” game.
The first one is the name of the tissue:
Tissue Name:
The second one is
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Connective
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is blood, it has a non-living matrix of plasma that helps
transport materials through the body. The living cells can carry
respiratory gasses, or trap foreign materials
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Columnar epithelial
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
The rectangular cells help line structures. They can be tightly
bound to each other to help control the movement of materials
into the structures they line.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Muscle
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
These cells have fibers that allow them to contract or get shorter.
They are used to move materials and body parts.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Epithelial
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
These cells line surfaces. This is stratified squamous- it forms in
layers to protect surfaces that are exposed to abrasion. This way
the top layers can be worn away without harming the layers
beneath.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Connective Tissue
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This tissue is made up a non-living matrix that has large storage
space to hold fat produced by the body. The living cells are dispersed
throughout the matrix.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Muscle
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is smooth muscle tissue, these cells have fibers that allow the
cell to contract, or get shorter, and relax back to their original size.
In this way they help move materials in the body.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Nervous
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
These cells help carry messages throughout the body. They have
branching ends that help pick up and send out impulses (or messages)
as well as long strands that carry the impulse over distances through
the body.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Connective
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is bone tissue which needs to be strong so it can protect and
support different parts of the body. Its non-living matrix contains
minerals that help give it strength. The living cells are imbedded in
this matrix.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Epithelial
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is cuboidal epithelial. It lines ducts, or tubes, in the body.
The cells in this tissue are tightly bound together to help keep
materials moving along the surface.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Muscle
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is cardiac muscle. These fibers need to move blood through the
heart. These cells have fibers that can contract, or get shorter, as well
as slide back to their original position. This helps pump the blood.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Connective
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This dense connective tissue is tough to protect the ends of bones
and reduce friction. It has a tough, semi flexible, non-living matrix
that helps to do this. The living cells are with in this matrix.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Connective
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This loose connective tissue that helps hold your skin onto your
body. It has a tough, semi flexible, non-living matrix that helps
to do this. The living cells are with in this matrix.
Tissue Name:
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
Epithelial
“How does the structure help with the function
of the tissue type?”.
This is columnar epithelial and its function is to line surfaces
over which materials move. The cells are joined tightly together
to control what can move past them. Some contain cilia to help
move materials along the surface.