M1 A5: Discussion on Body Tissues

Epithelial Tissue (Embryonic origin and functions)

 Embryonically it  derives from ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.It covers body and organ
surfaces, lines body cavities and lumina (the hollow portions of body organs or vessels) and
forms various glands. 

Characteristics of Epithelial tissue:

 Composed of continuous and tightly packed cells  covering the surfaces of the body and  stand
on a basement membrane  which provides a site of attachment for the epithelium, and acts as a
selective filtration barrier.

 With very little intercellular material, they do not have their own blood supply (avascular),
relying  on diffusion for exchange of oxygen and metabolites.

 They  contain specialized cell-cell junctions that bind adjacent cells to each other.

 Epithelial cells exhibit polarity which means there are  intrinsic asymmetry observed in cells,
either in their shape, structure, or organization of cellular components especially along the
apical-basal axis. These can include receptors and channels for transportation of substances.

Epithelium Two Main forms:

 Covering and lining epithelia( on external and internal surfaces (example: skin) Important for 
Selective diffusion , Absorption/secretion,  Physical protection & Containment

 Glandular Epitheliaare  organised collection of secretory epithelial cells. The two types of glands
are are known as EXOCRINE GLANDS which are glands with ducts. Other glands are ENDOCRINE
glands without ducts

Epithelial Classifications

 COVERING EPITHELIA

 Covering epithelia are sheets of tissue that cover the external surfaces (skin, lungs, gut) and line
the internal cavities (blood and lymphatic vessels, pleura) of the body. 

 This type can be classified according to the number of layers:simple (single layer thick ) or
stratified (two or more layers thick and involved in protection (example: skin) ;
and Pseudostratified epithelia (false stratified , can be ciliated or non-ciliated);  according to
shape:  according to shape of cells:  Squamous( flattened and scale-like);Cuboidal (box-like, cube)
Columnar (tall, column-like) and  Transitional (change shape as the need arise ex: urinary
bladder)

 The following tables show the classification of simple and stratified epithelia.

http://www.biologyreference.com/Ep-Fl/Epithelium.html (Links to an external site  (Links to an external

site.)
  Epithelium  Cell Junctions  which  found between epithelial cells, but can also between other
types of cells.This include  occluding junctions(zonula occludens or tight junctions); adhering
junctions  (zonula adherens); desmosomes (macula adherens). There are
also 'hemidesmosomes' that lie on the basal membrane, to help stick the cells to the underlying
basal lamina. Gap junctions. These are communicating junctions. (also known as nexus, septate
junction)

 Glandular Epithelia

 These are  glands consists of  one or more cells that produce and secrete a specific product. 

 Are classified into two groups based on characteristics: where they release their product, glands
can be endocrine(lack ducts and secrete their products hormones directly into the bloodstream)
or  exocrine (with ducts) ;  and the number of cells they contain,  glands can be unicellular (one-
celled) or multicellular (more than one
cell).  https://www.histology.leeds.ac.uk/tissue_types/epithelia/epithelia_function.php  (Links to
an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

Types of Glands according to mode of secretion.

 Merocrineglands are the most common and release their secretions by exocytosis.

 Apocrineglands release their secretions by detachment of an apical portion of the cytoplasm.

Discussion of Connective Tissue Proper

https://www.news-medical.net/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

CONNECTIVE TISSUE ORIGIN

 This  is the most abundant and widely distributed of the primary tissues.  They are derived from
embryonic mesoderm.  

CONNECTIVE TISSUE FUNCTIONS

 It provides support, binds together, and protects tissues and organs of the body, insulation;
storing reserve fuel and transporting substances within the body The connective tissues include
several types of fibrous tissue that vary only in their density and cellularity, as well as the more
specialized and recognizable variants such as bone, ligament, tendons, cartilage and adipose
tissue.https://www.britannica.com/science/connective-tissue   (Links to an external site.)

CONNECTIVE TISSUE COMPONENTS

 Connective tissue consists of three main components: cells, protein fibers, and an amorphous
ground substance.Together the fibers and ground substance make up the extracellular matrix
which is the most important component of most connective
tissue. http://www.histologyguide.com/slidebox/03-connective-tissue.html   (Links to an external
site.)

CONNECTIVE TISSUE CLASSIFICATIONS

Connective tissue is classified based on the type of cells, arrangement and type of fibers, and
composition of the extracellular matrix.

1. Embryonic Connective Tissue. 

 It is formed during the development of the embryo . This include Mesenchymewhich develops

into the various connective tissues of the body and Mucoid connective tissue which  is a
gelatinous substance found in the umbilical cord.

1. Connective tissue proper

 1 Loose Connective Tissue

 Areolar also known as loose connective tissue , which is highly cellular with a sparse, random
arrangement of collagen fibers (and some elastic fibers). It  function for binding and packing;
protection & nourishments; holds fluids, secretes heparin and located deep to skin, surrounding
muscles, vessels and organs

 Adipose/adipocytes, are fat cells.Two types are white fat cells, which are the most common
type in adults and brown fat cells which are are smaller than white adipocytes and present in
large amounts in the new-born, but restricted to areas around kidney, aorta and regions of the
neck and mediastinum of an
adult. https://www.histology.leeds.ac.uk/tissue_types/connective/connective_tissue_types.p hp (
Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

 Reticular,  a type of loose connective tissue in which reticular fibers are the most prominent
fibrous component, forms the supporting framework of the lymphoid organs (lymph nodes,
spleen, tonsils), bone marrow and liver. https://histologylab.ctl.columbia.edu/lab03/reticular-
connective-tissue/

 2  Dense connective tissue -enriched in collagen fibers with little ground substance

 Dense regular connective tissuewhere collagen fibers oriented in the same direction

 Dense irregular connective tissue-collagen fibers woven in multiple directions.  Found in joint

capsules, in the connective tissue that envelops muscles (muscle fascia), and it forms dermis of
skin. It is impact
resistant. https://www.histology.leeds.ac.uk/tissue_types/connective/connective_tissue_types.p
hp  (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external site.)

 Elastic connective tissue: for flexibility and distensibility and located in the arteries , larynx,
trachea and bronchi. 

The table below presents the classification of adult connective tissues:

M1A5 Discussion of Specialized Connective Tissue

All Sections

Feb 23 at 2:02pm
No unread replies.No replies.

https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-hyaline-cartilage   (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external

site.)

 3  Specializes Connective Tissue

 Cartilage, a specialized connective tissue  which is  semi-rigid, but flexible avascular connective
tissue found at various sites within the body. It consist mainly of cells called chondrocytes and
chondroblasts that synthesize the extensive extracellular matrix.

Three types:

 Hyaline Cartilage,the most common form of cartilage.  It is  translucent, blueish-white, and
shiny, usually only 2 – 4 mm thick (all cartilage must be thin, as there is no vascularization in this
tissue type, and nutrients and oxygen must be obtained through diffusion).  It is the embryonic
form of cartilage, and also found in the ribs, joints, nose, larynx and trachea.

 Elastic Cartilage, also called yellow cartilage, with a role to give shape and support. It is found in
the outer ear, the Eustachian (auditory) tube, and the epiglottis, which is the tissue that
separates the trachea and the esophagus.  It is similar to hyaline cartilage but with  numerous
yellow branching elastic fiber within its matrix  that make it very flexible. 

 Fibrocartilage, a blend between hyaline cartilage and dense fibrous connective tissue which is 
white, densely arranged, opaque, tufted tissue with a mixture of both chondrocytes and
fibroblasts.  Ex:  fibrocartilage found in intervertebral discs  has greater tensile strength and
elasticity, the fibrocartilage found in the glenoid or acetabular labra are more resistant to
repetitious stress and provide strength and elasticity to the musculoskeletal attachment.

 Blood, a body fluid  in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as
nutrients  and oxygen  to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those
same cells.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood   (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external
site.)

https://www.newhealthadvisor.org/

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

 Bone, rigid body tissue  consisting of cells embedded in an abundant hard intercellular

material. https://www.britannica.com/science/bone-anatomy   (Links to an external site.)  (Links
to an external site.)
Spongy bone is also called cancellous or trabecular bone  is a highly vascularized and porous tissue. 
Trabeculae are spaces created in the tissue by thin areas of osteoblast cells. It also makes up about 20%
of a human skeleton. Spongy bone is home to the bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells that
differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. 

Compact bone, also called cortical bone, surrounds spongy bone and makes up the other 80% of the
bone in a human skeleton. It is smooth, hard and heavy  and  made up of units called lamellae which are
sheets of collagen aligned in a parallel pattern that gives the bone strength. Blood vessels supply
compact bone with oxygen and nutrients through structures called Haversian canals or osteons. It
posses  bone marrow cavity in the center,  yellow in color and store
fat.  https://biologydictionary.net/difference-spongy-bone-compact-bone/   (Links to an external site.)

Muscle Tissues

Do you know why we move? Well, it is because of our muscle contraction  that produce our body
movement. https://biologydictionary.net/muscle-tissue/  (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external
site.)

Types of Muscle Tissues

 Skeletal muscle, mainly attaches to bones  via tendons to maintain posture and control
movement, with striations (stripes) and can be controlled by conscious will. Ex:  biceps muscle,
attached to the scapula and radius, will raise the forearm.

 Cardiac muscle tissue, found only in the heart which pump blood throughout the body and
maintain blood pressure. Also known as striated involuntary muscle, and with intercalated disks.

 Smooth muscle tissue, found associated with numerous other organs and tissue systems such as
the digestive system  for example aiding the movement of food through peristalsis. Also known
as non-striated muscle, spindle shaped with a single centrally located
nucleus.https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/muscular-tissue/   (Links to an
external site.)  (Links to an external site.)

http://griffinanatomy.weebly.com/5-1-muscle-tissue-categories-and-functions.html   (Links to an external

site.)  (Links to an external site.)

Nervous Tissues

The term for groups of organized cells in the nervous system. It is categorized into neurons which
conduct electrical impulses and neuroglia (glia) cells, which are supporting cells of nervous
system.  https://biologydictionary.net/nervous-tissue/#:~:  (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an
external site.)

Nervous tissue is made up of:

 Neurogliaare specialized nervous tissue cells that are smaller and more numerous than
neurons.  They serve to carry out support functions such as vascularization, phagocytosis and 
myelinization.
 1. Astrocytes- star shaped with many processes, participate in the metabolism of
neurotransmitters, maintain proper K+ balance, help form blood brain barrier, and provide a link
between neurons and blood vessels.

2. Oligodendrocytes- fewer processes and are smaller that astrocytes, most common type in the
CNS, they are involved in myelinization.

3. Microglia- small cells derived from monocytes that function as macrophages and carry out
phagocytosis.

4. Ependymal- columnar to squamous epithelial cells often ciliated that form a lining in the
ventricles (fluid filled cavities in the brain).  https://www.austincc.edu/ (Links to an external
site.) (Links to an external site.)

https://toxtutor.nlm.nih.gov/08-004.html

 Neuron

 the basic unit of nervous tissue. They are responsible for sensing stimuli and transmitting signals
to and from different parts of an organism.

 Three basic parts of neuron  are: 

 Cell Body: The central cell body contains the neuron's nucleus, associated cytoplasm  and other
organelles

 Axons:This part of the neuron transmits information and extends away from the soma or cell
body. It typically carries signals away from the cell body, but occasionally receives impulses from
axoaxonic connections.

 Dendrites:Dendrites are similar to axons, but tend to be multibranched extensions that typically
carry signals toward the cell body. They generally receive neurochemical impulses from the
axons of other cells.  https://www.thoughtco.com/nervous-tissue-anatomy-373196