TISSUE
SRISHTI JAGOTA
Tissue: a higher level of organization
The term tissue is used to describe a group of cells found together in
the body. The cells within a tissue share a common embryonic origin.
Microscopic observation reveals that the cells in a tissue share
morphological features and are arranged in an orderly pattern that
achieves the tissue’s functions. From the evolutionary perspective,
tissues appear in more complex organisms. For example,
multicellular protists, ancient eukaryotes, do not have cells organized
into tissues. Having tissue level organization increases the efficiency
of the body as different shapes and internal structures are better
suited to carry out different functions.
Although there are many types of cells in the human
body, they are organized into four broad categories of
tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
Each of these categories is characterized by specific
functions that contribute to the overall health and
maintenance of the body. A disruption of the structure
is a sign of injury or disease.
TYPES OF TISSUE
EPITHELIAL TISSUE - sheets of cells that cover exterior surfaces of the
body, lines internal cavities and passageways, and forms certain glands.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE - binds the cells and organs of the body together
and functions in the protection, support, and integration of all parts of
the body.
MUSCULAR TISSUE - excitable, responding to stimulation and contracting
to provide movement, and occurs as three major types: skeletal
(voluntary) muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle in the heart.
NERVOUS TISSUE - allowing the propagation of electrochemical signals in
the form of nerve impulses that communicate between different regions
of the body
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Skin is not the only area of the body exposed to the outside.
Other areas include the airways, the digestive tract, as well
as the urinary and reproductive systems, all of which are
lined by an epithelium. Hollow organs and body cavities that do
not connect to the exterior of the body, which includes, blood
vessels and serous membranes, are lined by
endothelium (plural = endothelia), which is a type of
epithelium.
GENERAL STRUCTURE OF EPITHELIA
All epithelia share some important structural and functional features. This
tissue is highly cellular, with little or no extracellular material present
between cells. The epithelial cells exhibit polarity with differences in structure
and function between the exposed or apical facing surface of the cell and the
basal surface close to the underlying body structures. Particular structures
found in some epithelial cells are an adaptation to specific functions. Certain
organelles are segregated to the basal sides, whereas other organelles and
extensions, such as cilia, when present, are on the apical surface. The basal
lamina, a mixture of glycoproteins and collagen, provides an
attachment site for the epithelium, separating it from underlying
connective tissue. The basal lamina attaches to a reticular lamina, which is
secreted by the underlying connective tissue, forming a basement membrane
that helps hold it all together.
Epithelial tissues are nearly completely avascular. For
instance, no blood vessels cross the basement membrane
to enter the tissue, and nutrients must come by diffusion
or absorption from underlying tissues or the surface.
GENERAL FUNCTION
Many epithelial tissues are capable of rapidly replacing damaged and dead cells.
Sloughing off of damaged or dead cells is a characteristic of surface epithelium and
allows our airways and digestive tracts to rapidly replace damaged cells with
new cells.
The cells of an epithelium act as gatekeepers of the body controlling permeability
and allowing selective transfer of materials across a physical barrier
Some epithelia often include structural features that allow the selective transport
of molecules and ions across their cell membranes
Many epithelial cells are capable of secretion and release mucous and specific
chemical compounds onto their apical surfaces. The epithelium of the small
intestine releases digestive enzymes, for example. Cells lining the respiratory tract
secrete mucous that traps incoming microorganisms and particles. A glandular
epithelium contains many secretory cells.
CLASSIFICATION
Cell shapes can be squamous (flattened and thin),
cuboidal (boxy, as wide as it is tall), or columnar
(rectangular, taller than it is wide).
Similarly, the number of cell layers in the tissue can be one—
where every cell rests on the basal lamina—which is a
simple epithelium, or more than one, which is a stratified
epithelium and only the basal layer of cells rests on the
basal lamina. Pseudostratified (pseudo- = “false”)
describes tissue with a single layer of irregularly shaped cells
that give the appearance of more than one layer.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
GENERAL STRUCTURE
connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. The matrix
usually includes a large amount of extracellular material
produced by the connective tissue cells that are embedded
within it. The matrix plays a major role in the functioning of this
tissue. The major component of the matrix is a ground
substance often crisscrossed by protein fibres. This
ground substance is usually a fluid, but it can also be
mineralized and solid, as in bones.
FUNCTION
they support and connect other tissues; from the connective tissue
sheath that surrounds muscle cells, to the tendons that attach muscles
to bones, and to the skeleton that supports the positions of the body.
Protection is another major function of connective tissue, in the form
of fibrous capsules and bones that protect delicate organs and,
of course, the skeletal system. Specialized cells in connective tissue
defend the body from microorganisms that enter the body. Transport
of fluid, nutrients, waste, and chemical messengers is ensured
by specialized fluid connective tissues, such as blood and lymph.
Adipose cells store surplus energy in the form of fat and contribute to
the thermal insulation of the body.
CLASSIFICATION
Classified according to the characteristics of their ground substance and
the types of fibres found within the matrix -
[Link] tissue proper includes loose connective tissue and
dense connective tissue. Both tissues have a variety of cell types and
protein fibres suspended in a viscous ground substance. Dense
connective tissue is reinforced by bundles of fibres that provide
tensile strength, elasticity, and protection. In loose connective tissue,
the fibres are loosely organized, leaving large spaces in between.
[Link] connective tissue – bone and cartilage – provide
structure and strength to the body and protect soft tissues.
[Link] fluid connective tissue – lymph and blood – various specialized
cells circulate in a watery fluid containing salts, nutrients, and
dissolved proteins.
MUSCLE TISSUE
Muscle cells are excitable; they respond to a stimulus.
They are contractile, meaning they can shorten and
generate a pulling force. When attached between two
movable objects, in other words, bones, contractions
of the muscles cause the bones to move. Some
muscle movement is voluntary, which means it is
under conscious control Other movements are
involuntary, meaning they are not under conscious
control.
CLASSIFICATION
NEURAL TISSUE
Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and its contraction makes
possible locomotion, facial expressions, posture, and other
voluntary movements of the body. keletal muscles generate heat as
a byproduct of their contraction and thus participate
Neural tissue exerts the greatest control over the body’s in thermal
homeostasis. to changing conditions. Neurons, the unit of
responsiveness
neural system are excitable cells. The neuroglial cell which
constitute the rest of the neural system protect and support
neurons. Neuroglia make up more than one- half the volume of
neural tissue in our body. When a neuron is suitably stimulated,
an electrical disturbance is generated which swiftly travels
along its plasma membrane. Arrival of the disturbance at the
neuron’s endings, or output zone, triggers events that may