Simple squamous epithelium (Part A) is thin and leaky and

thus suitable for exchanging materials by diffusion

Part B shows a cuboidal

epithelium forming a tube in the kidney. Such epithelia are also
found in glands, such as the thyroid and salivary glands

simple columnar epithelium (Part C) lines your intestines,

where it secretes digestive juices and absorbs nutrients.

stratified squamous epithelium

in Part D make it well suited for lining surfaces subject to
abrasion, such as your outer skin and the linings of your
mouth and esophagus

The pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium in Part E

forms a mucous membrane that lines portions of your respiratory
tract and helps keep your lungs clean

connective tissue consists of a sparse

population of cells scattered throughout an extracellular material
called a matrix. Connective tissues may be grouped into six major
types.

The most widespread connective tissue in your body is

called loose connective tissue (Part A) because its matrix is a
loose weave of fibers.

Fibrous connective tissue (Part B) has densely packed parallel

bundles of collagen fibers, an arrangement that maximizes
its strength.

Adipose tissue (Part C) stores fat in large, closely packed

adipose cells held in a matrix of fibers.

cartilage (Part D), a connective tissue that

forms a strong but flexible skeletal material, consists of collagen
fibers embedded in a rubbery material.

Bone (Part E) has a matrix of collagen fibers embedded in a

hard mineral substance made of calcium, magnesium, and
phosphate.

Blood (Part F) transports substances throughout your body

and thus functions differently from other connective tissues. Its
extensive extracellular matrix is a liquid called plasma, which
consists of water, salts, and dissolved proteins. Suspended in the
plasma are red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood
cells, which function in defense against disease; and platelets,
which aid in blood clotting.

Muscle tissue is the most abundant tissue in most animals

Skeletal muscle (Part A) is attached to your bones by tendons
and is responsible for voluntary movements of your body

Cardiac muscle (Part B) forms the contractile tissue of your

heart. It is striated like skeletal muscle, but it is under involuntary
control, meaning that you cannot consciously control its contraction.
Cardiac muscle fibers are branched, interconnecting at specialized junctions that rapidly relay the
signal to contract
from cell to cell during your heartbeat.

Smooth muscle (Part C) gets its name from its lack of

striations. Smooth muscle is found in the walls of your digestive
tract, arteries, and other internal organs. It is responsible
for involuntary body activities, such as the movement of food
through your intestines. Smooth muscle cells are spindleshaped
and contract more slowly than skeletal muscles, but can
sustain contractions for a longer period of time.

Nervous tissue forms a communication network

Nervous tissue senses stimuli and rapidly transmits information.
Nervous tissue is found in your brain and spinal cord,
as well as in the nerves that transmit signals throughout
your body. The structural and functional unit of nervous tissue is the
nerve cell, or neuron, which is uniquely specialized to conduct
electrical nerve impulses. As you can see in the micrograph
in Figure 20.7, a neuron consists of a cell body
(containing the cells nucleus and other organelles) and a
number of slender extensions. Dendrites and the cell body receive
nerve impulses from other neurons. Axons, which are
often bundled together into nerves, transmit signals toward
other neurons or to an effector, such as a muscle cell.
Nervous tissue actually contains many more supporting
cells than neurons. Some of these cells surround and insulate
axons, promoting faster transmission of signals. Others help
nourish neurons and regulate the fluid around them.