Overview of Animal Tissues and Cells
Overview of Animal Tissues and Cells
Organization of an Organism
- A cell is the structural and functional unit
of life.
- A cell is a mass of protoplasm surrounded
by a plasma membrane.
- The protoplasm of cell is generally with a
spherical nucleus and a variety of
cytoplasmic living cell-organelles like the
endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi
bodies, centrioles, ribosomes, lysosomes,
etc.
- Each cell organelle performs a specific
function.
Somatic cells:
- These are general body cells present all
over the body except reproductive organs.
These cells are responsible for all the bodily
activities.
Germ cells:
- These are also called ‘sex cells’. These cells
are concerned with the reproduction and
are present in the reproductive
system/organ.
Tissue :
T
Connective Tissues
I
( Supporting tissues. These tissues help in binding different body
S structures.)
S
U
E
S Muscular Tissues
Contractile tissues. These tissues help in movements and
locomotion.)
Nervous Tissues
( Conducting tissues. These tissues help in conduction of nerve
impulses.)
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
General position:
-It covers the outer surface of all the organs of the body and also lines the cavities of all
the hollow organs of the body.
Structure:
- Cells are arranged in one or more layers.
- Cells are compactly arranged and there is no or very little intercellular material
(matrix) between them.
- Cells of the lowermost layer rest on thin, double layered, non-cellular, non-living
basement membrane (or basal lamina)
- Cells may originate from any primary germ layer i.e. ectoderm (e.g. epidermis of
skin), mesoderm (e.g. coelomic i.e body cavity epithelium), endoderm (e.g. mid gut
epithelium).
- Cells are non-vascular or avascular, i.e. they lack their own blood supply. These cells
get their nutrition from the blood capillaries present in the underlying connective
tissue.
- Cells have the power of division and regeneration throughout life. The old injured
dead cells are sloughed off (removed) regularly.
- Free surface of the cells may be smooth, or may have fine hair-like cilia or microvilli.
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Simple Compound
1. Simple Squamous
2. Simple Cuboidal 1. Stratified
3. Simple Columnar 2. Transitional
a. Ciliated
b. Non- ciliated
4. Simple Gandular
5. Simple sensory
6. Simple Germinal
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
Origin:
- It is found in the peritoneum of coelom and
endothelium (i.e. lining of the blood
vessels).
-It is also found on the surface of the skin.
Structure:
- The cells are polygonal in shape, thin,
delicate and flat.
- The nucleus is centrally placed. They
appear like flat tiles when viewed from the
top and so they are also called pavement
epithelium.
Functions:
- Filtration and diffusion of material.
- Protection of skin from micro-organisms
and foreign particles.
SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
Origin:
- It is generally found in the
thyroid gland and kidney.
Structure:
-The cells are cube shaped,
with centrally placed round or
spherical nucleus.
Functions:
- They play an important role in
absorption and secretion.
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Origin:
- It makes the inner lining of
stomach,intestine and other
internal organs.
Structure:
- The cells are tall, pillar-like with
anterior free end that is
broader than the posterior
narrow end resting on the
basement membrane.
- Nucleus is oval or elliptical and
is placed
near the basal end
CILIATED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Origin:
- It is found in the upper respiratory tract,
fallopian tube of vertebrates.
Structure:
- The cells are tall, pillar-like with anterior free end
that is broader than the posterior narrow end
resting on the basement membrane.
- The anterior free end shows presence of large
number of thin protoplasmic extension called
cilia, which are seen rising from the basal
granules.
-Nucleus is oval and placed at the basal end.
Functions:
-Since cilia are capable of vibratory movement,
they are able to remove foreign particles from the
surface. Cilia help in the movement of non-motile
ovum.
NON- CILIATED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Structure:
- These are without cilia at their anterior free
end and hence called non-ciliated columnar
epithelium.
- Columnar cells at their apical region show
presence of finger like protoplasmic
projections called microvilli.
Functions:
-Microvilli help in increasing the surface area of
absorption which is the main function of non-
ciliated columnar epithelium.
SIMPLE GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM
Endocrine Glands:
- These glands pour their secretion directly into the blood stream. Such glands lack
ducts and are thus called ductless glands.
- e.g.: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, ovary, testis, adrenal, islets of Langerhans.
Exocrine Glands:
- These glands are with ducts. Their secretion is carried by means of a duct or tube to
the site of action. They are responsible for body secretions.
- e.g.: tear glands, salivary glands, gastric and intestinal glands.
Heterocrine Gland- Mixing of both gland ,Pancreas
Exocrine Glands
COMPOUND EPITHELIUM
1. Areolar 1. Cartilage
2. Adipose 1. Blood 2. Bone
3. White fibrous 2. Lymph
4. Yellow elastic
5. Reticular.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Connective tissue proper Areolar connective tissue
Origin:
-It is found below the skin, muscles
and bones.
Functions:
- The areolar tissue, also called loose
connective tissue, is essentially
connective in function.
- It fixes the skin with the muscles,
attaches the blood vessels and
nerves with the surrounding
tissues, fastens the peritoneum to
the body wall and viscera and keeps
the muscle fibres together.
Connective tissue proper Areolar connective tissue
Yellow fibres:
- Thin, slender and singly arranged.
- These are flexible, elastic and branched, the
branches joining with one another to form an
irregular but large network.
- They possess elastic property due to the
presence of a protein called elastin.
Connective tissue proper Areolar connective tissue
Fibroblasts:
- Main cells of the areolar tissue. They are large,
flat and star-shaped cells with long and
branched processes.
- They secrete the matrix and the material of
which the fibres are formed (both white and
yellow fibres).
- Fibroblasts migrate to the site of injury and
secrete more fibres to seal off the wound.
Macrophages or Histiocytes:
- The macrophages are almost as numerous
as the fibroblasts.
- They are large, long-lived and irregular cells.
- They engulf the microbes, foreign particles and
damaged cells.
- Hence, they are phagocytic in action.
Connective tissue proper Areolar connective tissue
Mast Cells:
- The mast cells are also called mastocytes
and they are small oval cells in mammals.
- They produce heparin and histamine.
- Heparin prevents blood clotting in the
uninjured vessels.
- Histamine is useful in dilating blood vessels, an
inflammatory response to injury or infection.
Histamine is also involved in allergic reactions. Its
release from the mast cells helps in body defence
by attracting the phagocytes to the site of injury.
Adipocytes:
- These are useful in storage of fats.
Connective tissue proper Adipose connective tissue
Origin:
- The adipose tissue is found in the subcutaneous tissue (under the
skin), in the covering of the heart and around the blood vessels and
kidneys.
- It also forms the yellow bone marrow.
Functions:
- Adipose tissue is primarily a food reserve.
- The subcutaneous fat prevents heat loss from the body,
particularly in polar animals and also rounds off the body
contour (shape).
- It forms a shock absorbing cushion around the kidneys and the
eyeballs.
- It also produces the blood corpuscles.
Structure:
- Adipose tissue is found in association with the areolar
connective tissue.
- It is modified areolar tissue consisting of a large number of
adipocytes i.e. cells specialised for fat storage. A fat cell first
develops in it small fat droplets, which later fuse to form a large fat
globule. These globules push the cytoplasm with its organelles to
the periphery and the nucleus to one side.
Connective tissue proper Adipose connective tissue
RETICULAR TISSUE :
- The reticular tissue consists of star-
shaped reticular cells, the protoplasmic
processes of which join to form a cellular
network.
- Reticular fibres are superimposed on
the reticular cells. They are composed of
a protein called reticulin.
- They are branched and inelastic.
- This tissue forms the supporting
framework of lymph glands, spleen and
bone marrow.
- The reticular cells are phagocytic and
form defence mechanism of the body.
Skeletal Tissue Cartilage
The cartilage is a solid, semi-rigid connective tissue. It is tough, flexible tissue which forms the
endoskeleton in large number of vertebrates.
Structure:
- The cartilage is enclosed in a sheath of white fibrous tissue
called perichondrium. It consists of blood vessels and nerve
fibres.
- The perichondrium encloses a semi-solid matrix called
chondrin.
- Towards the periphery or the inner margin of the
perichondrium, a layer of small immature cartilage cells
called chondroblasts are seen. The matrix is secreted by the
chondroblasts.
- A chondroblast lies in a fluid-filled space, the cartilage
lacuna, in the matrix.
- During growth of the cartilage, the chondroblasts divide and
the cells formed by division keep lying in groups of two or
more in the same lacuna
Skeletal Tissue Cartilage
Hyaline Cartilage:
Fibrous Cartilage:
It is the strongest and the most rigid cartilage in the body.
Functions:
- It acts as a cushion in the intervertebral discs.
- In the pubic symphysis
- It helps to support and aids fusion of different organs
of the body.
Skeletal Tissue Cartilage Elastic Cartilage
Elastic Cartilage:
Origin:
It is found in the epiglottis (lid on top of the larynx),
external ear (auricle), trachea etc.
Structure:
It is surrounded by perichondrium. The matrix (chondrin)
contains a thread-like network of elastic fibres.. It has
abundant network of yellow fibres in addition to white
fibres. Chondrocytes are few in number and are seen
encircled with elastic fibres. It is opaque and yellowish in
appearance. It readily recovers its shape after distortion.
Functions:
It gives support and maintains shape of the body.
Skeletal Tissue Cartilage Elastic Cartilage
Calcified Cartilage:
- It is formed due to deposition of various salts in the matrix.
- Due to this deposition, the cartilage becomes very hard
and inelastic and loses it flexibility.
- This condition is found in old age where the joints lose their
mobility.
- It is also found in the suprascapula of the frog and the
vertebrae of sharks.
Hyaline Cartilage Fibrous Cartilage Elastic Cartilage
1) It is bluish green, 1) It is whitish, opaque in 1) Is yellowish, opaque in
translucent in appearance. appearance.
appearance.
1) Has fewer, very thin white 2) Has an abundant white 2) Has an abundant yellow
fibres in the matrix. fibres in the matrix. fibres in the matrix.
BONE :
Bone is the hardest tissue in the body.
Bone is the main constituent of the skeleton. Bone shows the presence of hard,
solid, calcified matrix called ossein.
The hardness is due to deposition of inorganic mineral salt called hydroxyl-
apatite [ Ca10 (PO4)6 (OH)2 ].
Skeletal Tissue Bone
Structure:
- Bone is enclosed in a thin layer of white fibrous connective tissue (i.e. collagen fibre) called
periosteum.
- Blood vessels and nerves pierce through the periosteum. The periosteum is internally lined by
endosteum which surrounds the marrow cavity.
- The matrix is arranged in concentric circles called lamellae.
- These lamellae contain a large number of living cells called osteoblasts or osteocytes which are
present in a fluid filled cavity called lacuna.
- Osteoblasts are active bone cells and osteocytes are inactive bone cells. Each lacuna has fine
cytoplasmic extensions called canaliculli which pass through the lamellae and makes connection
with the adjacent lacunae
Skeletal Tissue Bone
Functions:
- It is the supporting and protective tissue of vertebrates which protects the internal
soft and delicate tissues.
- Besides providing support, bones have a metabolic and protective role too.
- It forms the base for attachment of muscles.
- In long bones, the yellow marrow cavity helps in storage of reserve food material.
- The red marrow cavity in the long bones is useful in haemopioesis
Skeletal Tissue Bone
Spongy bone:
Origin:
It is seen in the expanded ends Compact bone:
(epiphyseal region) of long bones.
Origin: It is seen in the shaft (diaphysis) of long
Structure: bones.
The matrix or ossein is web-like
containing columns of bones called Structure: The matrix is hard, solid, and dense
trabeculae with many small spaces and without spaces in-between. It is filled with
between them. These spaces contain a a fatty tissue called the yellow marrow which
soft tissue called red bone marrow stores fat cells. It has many Haversian systems.
which is responsible for heamopiosis. It
lacks the Haversian system. Functions: The compact bone stores fat and
produces blood corpuscles in emergencies.
Functions:
The spongy bones provide considerable
strength with minimum of weight.
Blood is 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. In vertebrates, it is composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma.
what’s in
digested food
red blood cells white blood cells
plasma hormones
• Deliver O2
• Remove metabolic wastes
• Maintain temperature, pH, and fluid volume
• Protection from blood loss- platelets
• Prevent infection- antibodies and WBC
• Transport hormones
Plasma-55%
Buffy coat-<1%
Formed
elements-45%
90% Water
8% Solutes:
Proteins
Albumin (60 %)
Alpha and Beta Globulins
Gamma Globulins
fibrinogens
Gas
Electrolytes
Plasma
It also contains useful
things like;
• carbon dioxide
A straw- • glucose
coloured liquid
• amino acids
that carries the
cells and the • proteins
platelets which
• minerals
help blood clot.
• vitamins
• hormones
• waste materials
like urea.
Granulocytes
Neutrophils- 60-65%
Eosinophils- 2-3%
Basophils- 0.5-1%
Agranulocytes
Monocytes- 6-8%
Lymphocytes- 20-25%
Basophil Eosinophil Lymphocyte
Neutrophil platelet
Monocyte
eosinophil
neutrophil
monocyte
RBC
neutrophil
monocyte
lymphocyte
lymphocyte
basophil
FUNCTIONS
•Neutrophils and monocytes are phagocytic cells which destroy
foreign organisms entering the body.
•Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin, heparin, etc., and are
involved in inflammatory reactions.
• Eosinophils resist infections and are also associated with allergic
reactions.
Lymphocytes
1. Lymphocytes (20-25 per cent) are of two major
types – ‘B’ and ‘T’ forms.
2. Both B and T lymphocytes are responsible for
immune responses of the body.
Leucocytes are capable of coming out of blood capillaries by
amoeboid movement is called DIAPEDESIS
• Leukopenia
• Abnormally low WBC count—drug induced
• Leukemias
• Cancerous conditions involving WBCs
• Named according to the abnormal WBC clone
involved
• Mononucleosis
• highly contagious viral disease caused by Epstein-
Barr virus; excessive of agranulocytes; fatigue, sore
throat, recover in a few weeks
Platelets
I Fibrinogen
II Prothrombin
III Tissue Factor
IV Ca2+
V Proaccelerin
VII Proconvertin
VIII Antihemophilic Factor
IX Christmas Factor
X Stuart Factor
XI Plasma thromboplastin antecedent
XII Hageman factor
XIII Fibrin Stabilizing Factor
Hemostasis- stoppage of bleeding
Platelets: 250,000-500,000 cells/mm3
Tissue Damage
Platelet Plug
Clotting Factors
MUSCULAR TISSUE
Origin:
The muscle tissue arises from the embryonic mesoderm. It makes up about 40% of a
mammals body weight.
General Structure:
- Muscular tissue is made up of thin, elongated, contractile muscle fibres; hence it is
also called contractile tissue.
- The fibres have the ability to contract due to the presence of protein filaments of
myosin and actin. Hence, they play an important role in locomotion and movement.
- Muscle fibres are thin, elongated cells with one or many nuclei.
- The plasma membrane or the outer covering of a muscle fibre is called sarcolemma.
- The cytoplasm of a muscle fibre is called sarcoplasm. The sarcoplasm is largely
occupied by longitudinal, parallel protein threads, called myofibrils, arranged along
the axis of the fibre. These protein threads contain myosin and actin.
- The muscular tissue is innervated (supplied) with nerve fibres. They are vascular and
are supplied with blood vessels which carry nutrients and take away the metabolic
waste.
Functions:
Location:
- These are seen attached to bones in the head, trunk and limb region and so they are also called
skeletal muscles.
Structure:
- presence of cross striations in the form of light and dark bands.
- large number of peripherally placed nuclei.
- fibres are placed parallel to one another and are connected together by means of connective
tissue to form small muscle bundles.
- Muscle fibres contain a large number of myofibrils within the sarcoplasm covered with a thick
membranous sheath called sarcolemma.
- These myofibrils are marked by the presence of distinct cross-striations in the form of alternately
arranged light and dark bands. Hence they are called striated muscle fibres
- The light band is also called the “I-band” or Isotropic band. They allow the light to pass through
them and so appear light.
- A narrow dark line is seen in the light band and is called “Z-line” or Krause’s membrane.
- The dark band or “A-band” or Anisotropic band does not allow light to pass through and so it
appears dark. The dark band is interrupted with narrow light line called “H-Line” or Hensen’s
line.
- The portion between two “Z-lines” is called sarcomere.
Muscular Tissue Striated Muscle
Muscular Tissue Smooth Muscle
Origin:
- These are seen in the walls of all visceral
organs like stomach, intestine, reproductive
and urinary systems etc.
- Therefore, they are also called visceral
muscles. They are involuntary in nature, i.e.
their contractions are not controlled by our
will
Structure:
- elongated, slender and spindle shaped with
tapering ends. arranged in sheets or layers
and are bound by sarcolemma.
- Cross-striations are absent within the
sarcoplasm. centrally placed, single,
large and oval nucleus.
- Each muscle fibre contains many fine
contractile myofibrils arranged longitudinally.
- These myofibrils are innervated by the
autonomous nervous system (sympathetic
and parasympathetic).
Muscular Tissue Smooth Muscle
Functions:
- These muscle fibres are involuntary in
nature.
- They undergo prolonged but slow
contractions and relaxations.
- The frequency and intensity of contractions
varies.
- They are responsible for the peristaltic
movements which help in the passage of
food in the digestive tract
Muscular Tissue Cardiac Muscle
Origin:
- These involuntary muscles are found only in the wall
of the heart or in the myocardium.
- It also occurs in the pulmonary veins and the
superior vena cava.
- The unique ability of the heart is to generate its own
wave of excitation that can pass directly from fibre to
fibre.
Structure:
- An individual fibre is intermediate between striated and un-striated muscle fibres.
- These are short, branched fibres with ill-defined sarcolemma.
- The fibres are uni-nucleated but as they are joined together by neighbouring cardiac muscle fibres.
Thus they appear multi-nucleated.
- The branches of different fibres join to form a network.
- The place where these fibres unite is marked by the presence of special zig-zag junctions called
intercalated discs. Intercalated discs are the unique feature of cardiac muscles. They are formed by
transverse thickenings of the sarcolemma. They show the presence of alternate light and dark
bands.
- The contraction of the cardiac muscles is initiated from a particular point in the heart itself which is
known as the pacemaker. Such a type of a heart is called myogenic (i.e. of muscular origin).
- Cardiac muscles in some animals are sometimes seen innervated (supplied) with nerve fibres which
are responsible for triggering the contraction. This type of a heart is known as neurogenic (i.e.
controlled by nervous tissue).
NERVOUS TISSUE
Origin:
The nervous tissue arises from the ectoderm of the embryo.
Special Properties:
- The cells of the nervous tissue (i.e. neurons) provide the quickest means of
communication within the body and help the body to give response to the external
stimulus.
- Thus, the cells of the nervous tissue (i.e. neurons) are considered as impulse
generating and impulse conducting unit.
- Neurons possess two important basic properties: excitability and conductivity.
- Excitability is excitation by external stimulus by changing the action potential of
their membrane.
- Conductivity is to carry a wave of electric impulse from the dendron to axon.
General structure:
- Nervous system is made up of nervous tissue.
- Nervous tissue is composed of nerve cells or neurons and supportive cells called
neuroglia or glia cells.
Nervous Tissue Structure
Neurons
- Sensory neuron responds to external stimulus and carries impulse towards the central nervous
system.
- The axonal parts of sensory neurons terminate in the intermediate neurons which are seen in
brain and spinal cord. These are stimulated by the impulses that are received from the sensory
neuron.
- Motor neurons carry impulses from the central nervous system towards the effector organ which
brings about the response.
Neurons Medullary sheath
Myelinated or Medullated nerve fibre:
- Schwann cells secrete an insulating fatty layer around the
nerve fibre which forms myelin sheath.
- It is interrupted at regular intervals called Nodes of
Ranvier.
- A thin delicate membrane called neurilemma
surrounds the axon.
- Cranial nerves of vertebrates are of this type.
- Myelinated or Medullated nerve fibres are useful in
conducting impulse at a faster rate.
- As the impulse jumps from one Node of Ranvier to another,
it is called Saltatory conduction.
Non-myelinated or non-medullated nerve fibre:
- The axon of this nerve fibre lacks the myelin sheath as the
Schwann cells present around the nerve fibre does not
secrete the sheath.
- These are present in the autonomous nerves of
vertebrates and invertebrate nervous system.
- These nerve fibres also help in the conduction of
impulses but at much slower rate as compared to
myelinated nerve fibres.
The End