BODY TISSUES
The four main types of body tissues are:
1) Epithelium – Sheets of tissue that line and cover, provide protection
specialized for absorption/secretion
2) Connective – Provide support and framework.
3) Muscle – Provide movement
4) Nervous – Provide communication
CONNECTIVE TISSUES
• These tissues are the most
abundant tissues in the
body and they show the
most variation in their
functions.
• May act to build structures,
connect one tissue to
another, anchor structures,
support, defense,
transportation and
protection.
With That Much Diversity – What Do They
Have In Common?
• Connective tissues differ from epithelial tissues
in both their arrangement and in the amount and
type of intercellular material -MATRIX (material
found between cells)
Connective Tissue
Composition
1. Tend to have few cells in comparison to
the amount of space the tissue occupies.
2. Extracellular matrix (non-living material
secreted by cells) is found between the
living cells.
• The matrix and fibers found between the
cells is ultimately what determines the
qualitative characteristics of that
connective tissue.
Common Types of Connective Tissues
1. Areolar – Adhesive connective tissue.
2. Adipose – Fatty tissue consisting of adipocytes.
3. Fibrous Connective Tissue – Forms tendons to attach
muscle to bones.
4. Bone – Living cells that secrete calcium deposits.
5. Cartilage – Chondrocytes lay out gristle-like gel matrix.
6. Blood – Erythrocytes (red), leukocytes (white) and
thrombocytes (platelets) in a fluid matrix (plasma).
7. Hemopoietic – Found in red bone marrow cavities,
produces new blood cells.
AREOLAR
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
-This connective tissue forms the “GLUE” for other
tissues. Has gel-like matrix with several different types
of fibers in gel for reinforcement.
-Wraps and cushions organs, holds tissues together.
ADIPOSE
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
-Small amounts of gel-like matrix in between closely
packed adipocytes (fat cells)
-Provides reserve food fuel, insulates body against
heat loss, and provides padding.
LIPOSUCTION – The removal
of adipose tissue
FIBROUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
Collagen :stronger than wire
- Cells synthesize and secrete collagen protein fibers
that run parallel to each other.
-Attach muscles to bones (TENDONS), attach bones
to bones (LIGAMENTS). Strong and flexible but no
ability to stretch.
BONE
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
- Osteocytes (bone cells) secrete calcified matrix,
which has many channels for vascularization.
-Bones support and protect, provides levers for muscle
contraction to work on, stores calcium and other
minerals, stores marrow for blood cell formation.
CARTILAGE
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
- Chondrocytes (cartilage cells) produce and secrete a
gristle-like matrix surrounding themselves.
-Cartilage acts to support and reinforce joints, acts to
cover and cushion bones at the joints.
BLOOD
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
- Red and white blood cells along with cell fragments
(platelets) in a fluid matrix called plasma.
- Erythrocytes and plasma transport respiratory gases (O2 and
CO2), nutrients, wastes and other substances (hormones)
-Leukocytes = Fight infection
Thrombocytes = Clotting
HEMOPOIETIC
-STRUCTURE and FUNCTION:
- Blood stem cells found in spleen, tonsils, red bone
marrow, lymph nodes. Stem cells found closely packed
together in a liquid matrix
-Blood cell formation