Tissues

■ Groups of cells with common embryonic

origin and functions

■ 4 basic types:
❑ Epithelial- covers surfaces
❑ Connective- protects and supports
❑ Muscular- physical force
❑ Nervous- nerve impulses
What type of tissue is this?
Epithelial!
What type of tissue is this?
What type of tissue is this?
Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium)
■ Cells lie close together in continuous sheets
with little extracellular material
❑ Cover surfaces and line cavities; always a free
(apical) surface
❑ Forms glands
■ Basement membrane of connective tissue
underlies epithelium
■ Has no blood vessels (is avascular)
■ Has a nerve supply
■ Has a high capacity for cell division
Connective Tissue
■ Most abundant tissue type; typically
found between other tissues

■ Diverse functions that vary by specific

tissue type

■ Has blood supply and nerves; exception:

cartilage is avascular
Connective Tissue: Cells and Fibers
Adipose Tissue: an example of
connective tissue
Muscular Tissue
■ Cells
❑ Elongated, contractile (called muscle fibers)
Muscular Tissue

■ Three Types
❑ Skeletal muscle: pulls on bones allowing
body movements

❑ Cardiac muscle: forms wall of heart

❑ Smooth muscle: found in walls of hollow

organs such as stomach and bladder
Nervous Tissue
■ Types of cells
❑ Neurons: convert stimuli into nerve impulses and
conduct them
❑ Neuroglia: do not generate nerve impulses, but
serve supportive functions