xcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzx

cvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
Types of Tissues
mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
Epithelial Tissues, Connective Tissues, Muscular
Tissues and Nervous Tissues

mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn 2015/2016 A.D.

mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
Objectives:
At the end of this lecture the student should be able to:

1. Define tissue.
2. Define epithelial tissues.
3. List functions of epithelial tissues.
4. Differentiate between different types of epithelial tissues.
5. Define connective tissues.
6. Describe the structure of different types of connective tissues and their functions.
7. Identify the location of different types of connective tissues.
8. Differentiate between different types of connective tissues.
9. Define muscular tissues.
10. Describe the structure of different types of muscular tissues and their functions.
11. Differentiate between different types of muscular tissues.
12. Define nervous tissues.
13. Describe the structure and function of the neuron.
14. List the functions of nervous tissues.

hjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjk
nmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwe
rtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty
 Types of Tissues

Definition of tissue:
A tissue is a collection of similarly specialized cells that perform a common function in
the body.

The tissues of the human body are classified into four major types:
Type of the tissue Major functions of the tissue
1. Epithelial tissue; a. Covers the body surfaces from outside.
b. Lines body cavities from inside.
2. Connective tissue; a. Binds and supports body parts.
3. Muscular tissue; a. Moves body parts and produce muscle contraction.
4. Nervous tissue; a. Controls body functions.
b. Keeps us aware of surroundings.

Epithelial tissue; (OR epithelium)

1. It is composed of tightly packed cells that form a continuous layer or sheet.
2. Functions of Epithelium;
a. It covers external body surfaces and/or lining inner cavities of the body.
On External Surface; On Internal Surface;
Epithelium protects the body from; i. Secretes mucus along the digestive tract
i. Injury, (e.g., mouth, Pharynx, esophagus,
ii. Drying out, and stomach, small intestine, and large
iii. Infection, e.g., virus and bacteria. intestine),
ii. Removes dirt from the lungs and trachea
by the action of cilia (sing., cilium),
iii. Absorbs proteins, fats, carbohydrates
from intestine,
iv. Absorbs water from kidney tubules.

1
 3. Types of epithelial tissues: (Figure: 1.01)
Epithelial tissues are named according to the shape of the cell;
Type of epithelium; Description; Examples;
a. Squamous epithelium The cells are flattened.  Epidermis.
 Lining of lungs.
 Lining of blood vessels.
b. Cuboidal epithelium The cells are cube-shaped.  Lining kidney tubules.
c. Columnar epithelium a. The cells have the shape of  Lining the digestive
columns. tract.
b. Nuclei are located near the
bottom of cells.

4. Epithelial tissue can be;

a. Simple: means that the tissue has a single layer of cells, OR
b. Stratified: means that the tissue has several layers of cells e.g., stratified
squamous is present in;
i. Lining of the nose, mouth, esophagus, anal canal and vagina.
ii. The outer layer of skin.

Simple squamous epithelium Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Simple cuboidal epithelium Simple columnar epithelium

Fig.1.01: Types of epithelial tissues.

2
Connective Tissue:
1. Functions of Connective tissues;
a. Binds organs together,
b. Provides support and protection,
c. Fills spaces between tissues,
d. Produces blood cells and
e. Stores fat.

2. Structure of Connective tissues;

Connective tissues are formed of;
1. Cells: that are widely separated by the matrix,
2. Matrix: is a non-cellular material that may be;
i. Solid,
ii. Semi-solid, OR
iii. Fluid.
3. Fibers: of two possible types;
i. White collagen fibers which provides flexibility and strength.
ii. Yellow elastic fibers contain elastin which provides more elasticity.

3. Types of Connective tissues;

a. Loose fibrous connective tissue,
b. Dense fibrous connective tissue,
c. Adipose tissue,
d. Reticular connective tissue,
e. Cartilage,
f. Bone, and
g. Blood.

1. Loose fibrous connective tissues: (Figure: 1.02)

a. Cells;
i. They are called fibroblasts.
ii. They are scattered.
b. Matrix: jelly-like matrix.

3
 c. Fibers;
i. It contains both white collagen fibers and yellow elastin fibers.
ii. Fibers are randomly arranged and widely separated from each other.
d. Functions;
i. Support epithelium and internal organs.
ii. It covers internal organs, e.g., muscles, blood vessels and nerves.
e. Location;
i. Present in lungs, arteries and urinary bladder which allows them to
expand.

2. Dense fibrous connective tissues: (Figure: 1.03)

a. Cells;
i. They are called fibroblasts.
ii. They are scattered.
b. Matrix: jelly-like matrix.
c. Fibers;
i. Collagen fibers are more than elastin fibers.
ii. Collagen fibers are packed together to provide strength.
d. Location;
i. Tendons which connect muscles to bones.
ii. Ligaments which connect bones to bones.
iii. Joint capsules surrounding joints.

Fig. 1.02: Loose fibrous connective tissue Fig. 1.03: Dense fibrous connective
tissue

3. Reticular connective tissue: (Figure: 1.04)

a. Cells;
i. Called fibroblasts.
ii. Scattered on the fibers of the tissue.
4
 b. Matrix: jelly-like matrix.
c. Fibers;
i. It contains thin reticular fibers which form a delicate network.
d. Locations;
i. Lymph nodes,
ii. Spleen, and
iii. Bone marrow (which produces blood cells).

4. Adipose Tissue: (Figure: 1.05)

a. Cells;
i. Called adipocytes.
ii. They are enlarged to store fat.
b. Matrix: jelly-like matrix.
c. Fibers;
a. It contains few fibers that are randomly arranged.
d. Functions;
i. Storing energy,
ii. Heat insulation, and
iii. Organ protection.
b. Locations;
i. Under the skin,
ii. Around the kidneys, and
iii. On the surface of the heart.

Fig. 1.04: Reticular connective tissue. Fig. 1.05: Adipose tissue

5
5. Cartilage: (Figures: 1.06, 1.07, and 1.08)
a. Cells;
i. Called chondrocytes.
ii. Each cell lies in a small chamber called lacuna (pl., lacunae),
b. Matrix: solid but flexible matrix.
c. Cartilage has no direct blood supply so, it heals very slowly.
d. Fibers: there are three types of cartilage according to the type of fiber in the
matrix;
i. Hyaline cartilage: (Figure: 1.06)
 It is the most common type of cartilage,
 It contains very thin collagen fibers.
 The matrix has a white, semi-transparent appearance.
 Locations;
 In the nose,
 At the ends of the long bones,
 At the end of ribs.
 The rings in the walls of trachea and bronchi.

ii. Fibrocartilage: (Figure: 1.07)

 It contains strong collagen fibers.
 It is found in structures that tolerate tension and pressure, such as;
 The intervertebral discs of the spine and
 The wedges in the knee joint (Knee menisci).

iii. Elastic cartilage (Figure: 1.08)

 It contains more elastic fibers which make it more flexible.
 It is found in the outer ear.

Fig. 1.06: Hyaline cartilage

6
 Fig. 1.07: Fibrocartilage Fig. 1.08: Elastic cartilage

6. Bone: (Figures: 1.09 and 1.10)

a. It is the most rigid type of connective tissue.
b. Cells;
i. Called osteocytes.
ii. It has very few cells.
c. Matrix:
i. Extremely hard matrix.
ii. It contains calcium salts which make bone solid.
d. Fibers;
i. More collagen fibers which give bone elasticity and strength.

e. Bones are sub-divided into;

i. Compact bone: (Figure: 1.09)
 It is found in the shaft of long bones.
 It consists of cylindrical units called osteons.
 The central canal of each osteon is surrounded by rings of hard matrix.
 Blood vessels in the central canal carry nutrients to the bone cells.
 The ends of a long bone contain spongy bone.

Osteon

Central canal
Fig. 1.09: Compact bone.
7
 ii. Spongy bone: (Figure: 1.10)
 It is made of bony bars and plates, separated by irregular spaces.
 It is lighter than compact bone, but still it is strong.
 It is present in:
 End of long bones,
 Sternum, and
 Skull.

Fig. 1.10: Spongy bone.

7. Blood:
a. Cells;
i. It has no cells of its own.
ii. All cells are made in other organs; e.g.,
 Red blood corpuscles (RBCs): produced in spleen and bone marrow.
 White blood cells (WBCs): produced in lymph nodes.
 Blood platelets: they are present only in bone marrow.
b. Matrix:
i. Matrix is fluid.
ii. It is called plasma.
c. Fibers: it has no fibers.
d. Functions;
i. It transports nutrients and oxygen to tissues,
ii. It removes CO2 and other wastes,
iii. It helps distribute heat and
iv. Plays a role in fluid, ion, and pH balance.

e. Sometimes blood is classified as vascular tissue NOT as connective tissue.

8
 Muscular tissue:
Muscular (contractile) tissue is composed of cells that are called muscle fibers.
Muscle fibers contain actin and myosin filaments, their interaction produces movement.

Types of muscles:

Type Skeletal muscle (Figure: Smooth muscle (Figure Cardiac muscle (Figure
1.11) 1.12) 1.13)
Name 1. Called voluntary 1. Called visceral muscle.
muscles.
Location 1. Attached by tendons to 1. They are found in the 1. It is found only in the
bones of the skeleton. walls of the viscera, walls of the heart.
e.g., stomach, intestine 2. They mix the properties
and blood vessels. of skeletal and smooth
muscle fibers.
Functions 1. Moves body parts. 1. Produces contraction 1. Its contraction pumps
of stomach, blood into vessels and
2. Moves food in produces heartbeats.
intestine.
3. Moves blood in blood
vessels.
Type of 1. Under voluntary 1. Involuntary. 1. Involuntary.
contraction control. 2. They produce slower 2. They produce slower
2. Its contraction is faster contraction than muscle contraction than
than other types. skeletal muscles. skeletal muscles.
3. Can contract for longer 3. They never stop
time. contracting.
Cells or 1. Skeletal muscle fibers 1. The cells are spindle 1. The cells are branching.
muscle fibers are cylindrical and shaped. 2. They are striated.
long. 2. They are not striated.
2. They are striated 3. They form layers in
having alternating which the thick middle
light and dark bands part of one cell is
produced by the actin opposite to the thin
and myosin filaments. end of neighbor cells.
Nuclei 1. Multiple nuclei in each 1. Single nucleus in the 1. They have single
cell. cell. nucleus.
2. Located at the 2. Nuclei have irregular 2. The nucleus is centrally
periphery of the cell. pattern in the tissue. located.

9
 Striation

Nucleus

Fig. 1.11: Skeletal muscle.

Smooth muscle cell

Nucleus

Fig. 1.12: Smooth muscle.

Intercalated disk

Nucleus

Fig. 1.13: Cardiac muscle.

10
Nervous Tissue:
Nervous tissue: is present in the brain and spinal cord. The nerve cells are called
neurons.

The neuron (Figure: 1.14) is a specialized cell that has three parts:
1. Dendrites: they conduct signals to the cell body.
2. Cell body:
a. Also called "Soma".
b. Contains most of cell cytoplasm.
c. Contain nucleus of the neuron.
3. Axon:
a. Is the process that conducts signals away from the cell body.
b. Long axons are covered with white fatty substances called myelin.
c. Outside the brain and spinal cord, fibers are surrounded by connective
tissue to make nerves.

The neuroglia: (Figure: 1.15)

1. Glia is a Latin word means glue.
2. There are different types of neuroglia in the brain that help in the normal
functioning of the brain.
3. Ratio of neuroglial cells to neurons is 9:1.
4. They occupy more than half the volume of the brain.
5. Till recently, they were thought to support and nourish neurons only.

11
 Dendrites
Cell body

Nucleus
Neuron

Oligodendrocyte

Astrocyte

Microglia Foot Processes Axon

Myelin sheath

Fig. 1.14: Neuron.

Fig. 1.15: Neuroglia.

12
 Integumentary System
Definition of Integumentary system:
Integumentary system is composed of the skin and its accessory organs such as hair,
nails, sweat glands, sebaceous glands and subcutaneous tissues. (Figure: 1.16)

The skin:
1. The skin is a part of the integumentary system.
2. It protects underlying muscles and organs.
3. It is the largest organ in the body.
a. It measures 1.5-2 m2,
b. 2-3 mm thickness, and
c. Weighs about 15% of total body weight.
4. It has a pigmentation called melanin (produced by melanocytes), which absorbs
ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.

Functions of the skin:

1. It covers the body.
2. It protects underlying tissues from physical trauma and infections.
3. It prevents water loss.
4. It contains sensory receptors and help us to feel surrounding environment.
5. It regulates body temperature.
6. It synthesizes vitamin D.
7. Excretion: it excretes water and salts by sweating.

Skin Layers:
The skin has two main layers;
1. The epidermis:
a. It is made up of stratified epithelium:
i. Stratum: is a Latin word means layer, (pl. strata).
ii. The main types of cells in the epidermis are;
 Keratinocytes.
 Melanocytes: produce melanin (the pigment responsible for skin color).
 Langerhans cells (type of WBCs).

13
 iii. Layers (OR strata) of the epidermis are:
 Strata Basale:
 Is the basal (innermost) layer which forms the epidermis.
 Cells are columnar.
 New epidermal cells are formed at this layer.
 Strata Spinosum:
 Strata Granulosum:
 Cells lose their nuclei at this layer.
 Start to deposit keratin and lipids.
 Strata Lucidum: present in thick skin only.
 Strata Corneum:
 It is the outermost layer.
 It is a layer of flat, hard, keratinized cells.
 It is responsible for keeping water in the body and keeping other
bacteria and viruses out.

iv. Epidermal keratinization:

 It is the formation and maturation of epidermal cells.
 New epidermal cells are formed at the strata basale through mitosis.
 As the new cells move to the higher layers of epidermis, they become
flattened, hardened and change their shape.
 The hardening is produced by deposition of keratin in the cells.
 When the cells reach the strata corneum, they become flat keratinized cells,
and are then peeled.
 This process takes about 30 days.

b. The palm of the hand and sole of the foot have a thick layer of dead keratinized
cells arranged in spiral and concentric patterns forms fingerprints and footprints.
c. Epidermis contains no blood vessels and is nourished by diffusion from the
dermis.

2. The dermis:
a. It is a layer of fibrous connective tissue under the epidermis.
b. The main types of cells in the dermis are;
i. Fibroblasts.
ii. Adipocytes.
iii. Macrophages.
14
 c. It contains collagen and elastin fibers.
i. The collagen fibers resist skin overstretching.
ii. The elastin fibers maintain normal skin tension and allow movement of
underlying muscles and joints.
d. It contains blood vessels that nourish the skin.
e. It contains the accessory organs of the skin.

3. Subcutaneous layer:
a. It lies under the dermis.
b. It connects the skin to underlying structures such as muscles or bones.
c. It is composed of;
i. Loose connective tissue.
ii. Adipose tissue which;
 Stores fat and energy.
 Helps to thermally insulate the body (i.e., prevent gaining heat from
the outside or losing heat from the inside).
d. A well-developed subcutaneous layer protects the body against external
trauma.

Accessory organs of the skin:

1. Sensory receptors:
a. They are specialized nerve endings in the dermis that respond to external
stimuli.
b. There are sensory receptors for touch, pressure, pain and temperature.
c. The fingertips contain many touch receptors which help us to use our
fingers for delicate tasks.

2. Nails:
a. They are a protective covering of the distal part of fingers and toes.
b. Originate from epidermis (nail bed) but lie in the dermis.
c. Nails help us to open or pick up small objects.

3. Hair follicles:
a. They originate from the epidermis and lie in the dermis.
b. It forms hairs.
c. Hair shaft extends beyond the skin surface.

15
 d. Contraction of the errector pili muscles attached to hair follicles causes the
hairs to move.
e. Each hair follicle has one or more oil glands, called sebaceous glands, which
secrete sebum to lubricate the hair and skin.

4. The sebaceous glands:

a. They are exocrine glands.
b. In humans, they are present in all areas of the skin except in the palms of the
hands and soles of the feet.
c. They produce an oily substance called sebum (Latin = fat), which is a
mixture of lipids, wax and the dead cells.
d. Functions of sebum include;
i. Lubricating the skin to protect it against external injury.
ii. Water-proofing hair and skin, which prevent them from becoming dry
or cracked.
iii. Softening the skin.
iv. Bactericidal actions: inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on skin
surface.
e. If sebaceous glands are blocked, the secretions collect and form
“whiteheads” or “blackheads”, which is called Acne.
f. Acne: is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands that occur during
adolescence due to hormonal changes.

5. Sweat glands:
a. They are present in all regions of the skin.
b. It is a coiled tubule derived from the epidermis extending into the dermis.
c. It opens up on the skin surface
d. The tubule becomes straight near its opening on the skin surface.
e. They regulate body temperature i.e.;
i. When body temperature increases, it secrets sweat.
ii. Sweat absorbs body heat to evaporate.
iii. Once body temperature lowers, sweat glands stop their activity.

16
Fig.1.16: Skin structure.

References
1- Mader: Human biology, 7th ed. McGrew-Hill, 2001; Pp: 62-68.
2- Wikibooks Contributors: Human Pysiology. Wikibooks, 2006; Pp:
34-43.

17