In this assignment, you will explore types of tissue and use what you learn to answer some follow-up questions. Read the article and use the information to answer the following questions.

Types of Tissues

Name three types of connective tissue.

(aricle: Types of Human Tissue
Just like members of a sports team will work together to achieve a goal or win a game, cells work together to perform major tasks in the body. Tissues are groups of cells with similar shapes that work together in this way. Tissues are grouped into four classifications: epithelium, connective, muscle, and nervous. Each tissue classification has a unique arrangement of cells and material outside the cells that is specifically designed to perform a certain function.

Epithelial Tissue
Epithelial tissues form the various linings of the body. This includes the lining of the organs, blood vessels, digestive tract, respiratory tract, tubules of glands, and the skin itself.

Human tissue.
This topmost layer of cells in this slide of the trachea is epithelium. The epithelial cells in this organ protect the underlying tissues from drying out and help to capture and remove dust, germs, and other impurities in air.
Simple epithelium contains only a single layer of cells and is best-suited for absorption and secretion. The lining of the stomach, for example, contains epithelium that secrets acid and enzymes to digest food. The epithelium of the kidneys filters blood and produces urine. Stratified squamous epithelium contains multiple cell layers and is highly protective. The outermost layer of the skin contains stratified squamous epithelium.

Because epithelium serves as body linings, epithelial cells have short life spans and can regenerate relatively quickly following injury.

Connective Tissue
Connective tissue binds or supports other tissues or organs. Unlike epithelium, connective tissues contain both cells and extracellular matrix – a mixture of protein fibers, fluid, and other substances found outside the cell that provide structural support to the cells.

Connective Tissues diagram. Parts labeled are: Fat cell, Lymphocyte, Macrophage, Capillary, Melanocyte, Reticular fibers, Mast cell, Elastic fibers, Collagen fibers.
In addition to cells, connective tissues contain a matrix of extracellular substances that may include protein fibers, lipids, fluids, and other dissolved substances.
Connective tissues include tendons, cartilage, bone, blood, and fat.

Muscle Tissue
Muscle tissue can relax and contract, generating movement. There are three types of muscle tissue.

Types of Muscle Tissue. Left to right: Cardiac muscle tissue (involuntary control), Skeletal muscle tissue (voluntary control), Smooth muscle tissue (involuntary control).
Skeletal muscle cells are long and cylindrical, cardiac muscle is branched, while smooth muscle cells are spindle-shaped.
Cardiac muscle tissue is made of cells that are branched, or striated. Each cell has a single nucleus. These cells are found in the heart and have the ability to contract regularly through your whole life.

Skeletal muscle tissue is made of cells that are very long, striated, and can have more than one nucleus. These are found in all the voluntary muscles of the body, such as the biceps muscles of the arms.

Smooth muscle tissue is made of cells that are short, spindle-shape and non-striated. Each cell has a single nucleus. These are found lining the hollow organs of the digestive tract and help to move food forward.

Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue has the ability to communicate with other cells in the body through the transmission of electrical impulses. There are two primary types of cells found in nervous tissue. Neurons are star-shaped cells with elongated dendrites and axons that can form physical connections with other cells. Neuroglia are smaller cells that support neurons. This tissue is found in the brain, spinal cord, and all of the peripheral nerves throughout the rest of the body.

Human tissue.
The large cells are motor neurons, surrounded by many smaller neuroglia.