TISSUES 2
Y E A R 11 H U M A N B I O L O G Y ATA R
SYLLABUS POINTS
• the human body is comprised of cells, tissues and organs within complex systems that work
together to maintain life
• the various tissues of the human body perform specific functions and can be categorised into
four basic tissue types: epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• Identify the 4 tissue types based on their characteristics
• Relate the structure of each tissue type and subtypes cells to their function in the human body
• When given a photo of a tissue down a microscope, identify which tissue type it is
1. MUSCLE TISSUE
• Muscle tissue is composed
of cells that have a special
ability to shorten or contract
– There are three main types of
muscle tissue
• Skeletal muscle
• Cardiac Muscle
• Smooth muscle
A. SKELETAL MUSCLE
1. MUSCLE TISSUE
Function:
• Skeletal muscle attaches to bones
• When the muscle contracts, it pulls on the bones and causes movement
• Skeletal muscle = voluntary movement
Structure:
• Arranged in bundles – uniform movement
– allows nervous system to trigger specific movements of muscles by activating a subset of muscle fibers together
• Striated – create force and contract
– Skeletal muscle tissue appears to have stripes we call striations. These determine the line of pull the muscle has and generate
force.
• Cylinder Shaped cells – strength
– Cylinder shaped cells can be arranged in parallel which increases the strength
• Multinucleated (many nucleus per cell) – ENERGY production & repair
– More nuclei allow skeletal muscles to acquire more oxygen and nutrients
B. SMOOTH MUSCLE
1. MUSCLE TISSUE
Location & Function
• Controls the involuntary constriction
– Examples:
• in peristalsis (intestinal movement) within the
digestive system
• Constriction of blood vessels
• Constriction of pupils
Structure:
• NOT striated
• Have a spindle shape
– Allows cells to be closer together (sealing)
– Allows a more flexibility than striated muscles
• Single nucleus per cell in the center
C. CARDIAC MUSCLE
Location/ Function
• Found in the heart
• Responsible for rhythmic contraction of the heart
Structure:
• Branching fibers
– Allows rapid propagation of action potentials
• Have intercalated disc cells
– Synchronized contractions during heart beat
• Single nucleus
2. NERVOUS TISSUE
Function & location:
• Main component of the nervous system (ie brain ,
spinal column and nerves
• Generates and transmits nerve impulses
Structure:
• Cells have many long processes (extensions)
• Large central nucleus
• Two types of nervous tissue –
– neurons and
– glial cells (neuroglial cells)
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Locations: Functions:
• Lines the cavities, tubes, ducts and • Protection from physical & chemical
blood vessels inside the body injury,
• Covers organs inside the body • Protection against microbial invasion,
cavities
• Contains receptors which respond to
• Makes up skin (covers the outside of
stimuli,
the body)
• Filters, secretes & reabsorbs materials
and
Epithelial tissue has tightly packed
cells which form a very smooth • Secretes fluids to lubricate structures.
surface
EPITHELIAL TISSUE CELLS ARE NAMED
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
BASED ON THEIR SHAPE & LAYER NUMBER
A. SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Squamous shape is like a flattened oval as its width is greater than its height
Simple squamous Stratified squamous
• One cell thick • Multiple cells thick
• Function: • Function:
– Forms solid layer of cells which: – Forms skin (we call the skin the
• Lines blood vessels epidermis, ‘epi’ means on top and
‘dermis’ means layer or skin
• Lines body cavity
• Covers organs
Linking structure to function
Why would your skin require many layers of cells?
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM PICTURES
Simple Stratified
B. CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Shape/structure:
• Cuboidal is like little squares
• Height is equal to width
• One cell thick
Ducts
Function: Cuboidal
Cells
• Lines locations where
reabsorption and secretory
activities take place
• Eg. Kidney ducts
C. COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Shape/structure:
• Column shaped
• Height is greater than width
Function:
• Lines digestive tract where reabsorption &
secretion occurs
3. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Functions:
Structure
– Connects, binds and supports
structures, • cells are not tightly packed together
-Tendons, ligaments, etc.
• cells are separated from each other by a
– Protects & cushions organs and
tissues, large amount of non-cellular material
– Insulates (fat) and called the matrix
– Transports substances (blood).
• Matrix is made up of a ground substance
– Stores nutrients
(usually a fluid) and protein fibres
TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Adipose Bone Cartilage
Loose Dense
Blood Connective Connective
Tissue Tissue
A. ADIPOSE TISSUE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Structure:
• Honey comb like appearance
• Large amounts of ground substance and
less fibers
Function:
• Stores energy (fat)
• Insulates
• Supports & protects organs
B. BONE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Structure
• Tree ring-like appearance
• Little ground material
• Hard matrix
Function
• Supports & protects
• Mineral storage
• Fat storage
• Blood cell production
C. CARTILAGE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Structure
• Contains specialized cells called
chondrocytes (chrondro = cartilage, cytes
– cells) within the matrix
Function
• Gives shape, support and structure to
other body tissues
• Types of cartilage based on their
structure
D. BLOOD Blood is considered a specialized connective tissue as it
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
connects all systems of the body and transports oxygen,
nutrients, and wastes.
Structure
• Fluid connective tissue
• No fibres
• Only ground substance (plasma) and blood cells
Function
• Transports gases and nutrients
• Immune response (white blood cells)
E. LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Structure
• Large amounts of ground substance
and few fibers
– keeps it flexible
– Space for intercellular exchange
• Includes adipose and areolar and
reticular tissue
Function
• Generally holds organs, anatomic
structures and tissue in place
F. DENSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
4. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Structure:
• Contains more collagen fibres than loose
CT so shows a greater resistance to
stretching
Function:
• Transmits force over a distance
• Stabilises and supports tissues and organs
• Found in
– Tendons
– Ligaments
– Aponeuroses (a sheet of pearly white
fibrous tissue that takes the place of a
tendon in flat muscles having a wide
area of attachment.)
