What are Tissues?

Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Nadeem Ahmed

When you read the word tissue, you think “what is this”? Tissues are made up of similar (structurally and functionally) cells. They made cellular organizational level.

That organizational level is between the cells and organ system. Similar tissues combine with each other to form the organs and different organs hence form the organ system.

Here I will explain the complete anatomy of the tissues.

Study of tissues under a microscope

Marie Francois Xavier Bichat was called the father of histology because he was the first person who discovered the tissues.

The study of tissues, their structure, and functions under the microscope is called histology, and the study of disease-related to tissues or study of tissue disease is called histopathology.

A study under the microscope of tissues reveals that tissues are of 4 types in humans. These are connective tissues, epithelial tissue, nervous tissue, and muscle tissue.

Connective tissue:

Connective means the connection between two things. So its name suggests that it connects the body’s cells and organs together. It stores the nutrients. It goes through with the organ capsules and gives the strength of the skin as they are found in the deep layers of the skin.

Connective tissues have furthermore types

  • Loose connective tissue
  • Dense connective tissue

Epithelial tissue:

Epithelial Tissue is a very important tissue for the body as it acts as the defensive layer of the body.

  • It keeps the body safe from bacteria, mechanical injury, drying up, and dangerous chemicals by covering the body’s external layer or outer surface.
  • It assists in the removal of nitrogenous and other waste material from the body
  • It makes the mouth an alimentary canal, internal lining of the mouth, and other internal organs of the body and it also saves them from any harm.  
  • In the intestine, it soaks up the digested food and water.

Nervous tissue:

Nervous tissue plays a major role in impulse transformation. It takes the impulses from the different parts of the body and transfers them to the brain or vice versa by using the neurons.

The nervous system has main three types of nervous tissue. These are Nerves, Brain, and Spinal Cord.

Muscle tissue:

Muscle tissues are responsible for

  • Movement in the body
  • Signaling of food, waste, and blood through the body
  • Mechanical digestion

Muscle tissues are having three types

  • Cardiac muscles
  • Smooth muscles
  • Skeletal muscles

Cardiac muscles:

As the name indicates it is found in the heart wall. These are involuntary and striated muscles. They are connected with intercalated discs that play important role in the contraction and relaxation of the heart during the heartbeat. 

Smooth muscles:

They are concerned with the blood vessels and organ walls. They are spindle-shaped and involuntary cells that move things forward through organs.

Skeletal muscles:

These are the largest involuntary and striated body muscles. They are packed in bundles and help in movement by attaching with the bones.

Microscopic study of tissues reveals that tissues have a major part in our body. Without tissues, functions of body are not possible. We use light microscope to study the tissues and organs.

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