Unit 5: Anatomy and Physiology

Tissues

There are many different types of tissues. They are all made up of hundreds of cells with little
variation between the cells, regarding both structure and function. This results in a tissue that has
one main task. There are various ways in how tissues can form. There is a specific technique called
tissue culture (do some research into this)

Epithelial tissue: is a thin layer of tissue which usually lies on top of other tissues or organs. They
protect said tissues from chemical or physical damage. There are different types of epithelial tissue.
Some examples of this tissue in humans are in the mouth, windpipe and food canal. Functions are to
protect from the outside world (skin), it helps with absorption (stomach and intestinal lining), filters
(kidneys) and it secretes (creates glands). It’s closely attached to form the protective barrier. Always
has one free surface open to outside the body or inside an internal organ. Part of this tissue is always
on the outside of the organ or skin. It always has one fixed section to connective tissue. It has lots of
nerves in it. It’s very good at regenerating (sunburn or cuts etc.)

Connective tissues: these tissues lie beneath the epithelia tissues connecting different parts of the
internal structure. Various types of cells lie in a background material known as a matrix. The matrix
may be liquid as in blood, a jelly like material, as in areolar tissue (white material that binds muscle
groups, blood vessels and nerves together), firm as in cartilage or hard as in bone. The matrix of
tissue is usually secreted by the connective tissue cells. Its functions are to wrap around, cushion and
protect organs, it stores all nutrients, acts as an internal support for organs and can run through the
organs to give it strength.

Muscle tissues: three different types, smooth (involuntary- no control) cardiac (involuntary control)
and skeletal muscle tissue (voluntary- have control). In muscle tissue you can expect to find other
types of cells like blood vessels and nerves. They are formed like a sheet and are elastic, so they can
easily go back to shape after being stretched. They are not just found in arms and legs. They can be
found elsewhere, for example in the stomach muscle movement will crush food. Is referred as an
excitable tissue which can respond to stimuli. Smooth muscle- organ walls and blood vessels,
involuntary, spindle shaped cells to push things through organs. Skeletal muscle- large body muscles,
voluntary, packed in bundled and attached to bone foe movement. Cardiac muscle- heart wall,
involuntary, intercalculated discs connecting cells for synchronised contractions during a heartbeat.

Nervous tissues: is only found in the central nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord
and nerves. Receives stimuli from external and internal sources creating consistency, coordination
and communication between different parts of the body. Interprets stimuli from the sense organs so
that vision, hearing, smell and the other senses can become apparent.