Download Tissue Types Homework

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Tissue Types Reading - There are 4 types of tissues found in your body, epithelial, muscle,
connective, and nerve. Each type of tissue has cells with specific shapes and structures to help
perform the tissues function. The structure of the cell is important because it determines its
function.
Epithelial
Epithelial tissue is made of closely-packed cells arranged in flat sheets. Epithelial cells form
the surface of the skin and line the various cavities and tubes of the body. The epithelial cells that
form the inner lining of blood and lymph vessels are called endothelia.
The function of epithelia always reflects the fact that they are boundaries between masses
of cells and a cavity or space. Some examples:

The epithelium of the skin protects the underlying tissues from
o mechanical damage
o ultraviolet light
o dehydration
invasion by bacteria
o

The epithelium of the intestine
o secretes digestive enzymes into the intestine;
o absorbs the products of digestion from it.
An epithelium also lines our air passages and the alveoli of the lungs. The alveoli are
responsible for gas exchange in the lungs. The epithelial cells in the alveoli secretes mucus which
keeps it from drying out and traps inhaled dust particles. Most of its cells have cilia on their
surface that propel the mucus with its load of foreign matter back up to the throat.
Muscle
Three kinds of muscle are found in vertebrates:
1. Skeletal muscle is made of long and slender rope-like fibers whose contraction provides the
force of locomotion and other voluntary body movements. Spindle shaped.
2. Smooth muscle lines the walls of the hollow structures of the body, such as the intestine,
urinary bladder, uterus, and blood vessels. Its contraction, which is involuntary, reduces the
size of these hollow organs, pushing the materials down the channels. Spindle shaped.
3. The heart is made of cardiac muscle. It appears striated and has many nuclei.
Connective
The cells of connective tissue are embedded in a great amount of extracellular material.
This matrix is secreted by the cells. There are three main types of connective tissue:
1. Supporting connective tissue - Gives strength, support, and protection to the soft parts of
the body.
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Cartilage. Example: the outer ear

Tendons connect muscle to bone. The matrix is principally collagen, and the fibers
are all oriented parallel to each other. Tendons are strong but not elastic.
Bone. The matrix of bone contains collagen fibers and mineral deposits. The most
abundant mineral is calcium phosphate, although magnesium, carbonate, and fluoride
ions are also present
2. Binding connective tissue - It binds body parts together.

Ligaments attach one bone to another. They contain both collagen and also the
protein elastin. Elastin permits ligaments to be stretched.
3. Fibrous connective tissue - It is distributed throughout the body. It serves as a packing and
binding material for most of our organs. Collagen, elastin, and other proteins are found in
the matrix.
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
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Adipose tissue (fat) is fibrous connective tissue in which the cells have become
almost filled with oil. The oil is confined within membrane-bound droplets. There are
two types yellow and white.
Blood - The bone marrow is the source of all the cells of the blood. These include:
red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) – carry oxygen
five kinds of white blood cells (WBCs or leukocytes) – immunity
platelets (or thrombocytes) – involved in forming clots
Nerve
Nerve tissue is composed of nerve cells called neurons
and glial cells:


Neurons are specialized for the conduction of
nerve impulses. A typical neuron consists of a cell
body which contains the nucleus; a number of
short fibers — called dendrites — extending
from the cell body, and a single long fiber, called
the axon. The nerve impulse is conducted along
the axon, so nerve the axon of one nerve cell
attaches to the next nerve cell. This attachment
point is called the synapse.
Glial cells surround neurons. Once thought to be
simply support for neurons (glia = glue), they turn
out to serve several important functions. There
are three types:
i. Schwann cells. These produce the
protective covering (myelin sheath) that
surrounds many axons in the peripheral nervous system.
ii. Oligodendrocytes. These produce the protective covering (myelin sheath) that
surrounds many axons in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
iii. Astrocytes. These — often star-shaped — cells are clustered around synapses and
the nodes of Ranvier where they perform a variety of functions:
o stimulating the formation of new synapses;
o regulating the activity of neurons;
o repairing damage;
o supplying neurons with materials (nutrients) from the blood.
Tissue Types Questions
1.
The four types of tissue are
2. The skin epithelial protects the underlying tissues from
3. The function of the epithelium of the intestines is
4. What is the function of the alveoli in our lungs?
5. List the three kinds of muscle tissue and where they are found: 3 points
a.
b.
c.
6. The three types of connective tissue are
7. What is the difference between a tendon and a ligament?
2 points
8. Where are the blood cells made?
9. List the three types of blood cells and their functions: 3 points
a.
b.
c.
10. The three parts of a neuron are the
11. What is the synapse?
12. Describe how the cell shapes and structure for the types of tissue relate to their function
using the diagrams. You only need one example. (So answer this question- how does the
shape/size/structure of the cells in
filled in with one of the tissue types) 4 points
tissue relate to its function?- the blank is