TYPES OF ANIMAL TISSUES

Epithelial Tissue— this type of tissue is commonly seen outside the body as coverings or as linings of organs and
cavities. Epithelial tissues are characterized by closely-joined cells with tight junctions (i.e., a type of cell modification).
Being tightly packed, tight junctions serve as barriers for pathogens, mechanical injuries, and fluid loss.

Cells that make up epithelial tissues can have distinct arrangements:

• Cuboidal—for secretion
• Simple columnar—brick-shaped cells; for secretion and active absorption
• Simple squamous—plate-like cells; for exchange of material through diffusion
• stratified squamous—multilayered and regenerates quickly; for protection
• pseudo-stratified columnar—single layer of cells; may just look stacked because of varying height; for lining of
respiratory tract; usually lined with cilia (i.e., a type of cell modification that sweeps the mucus).

Connective tissue- supports, connects or separates other tissues or organs of the body as the name suggests.

Loose Connective tissue - These tissues have cells and fibres that are loosely arranged in a semi-fluid ground
substance.
Areolar tissue - It is present beneath the skin, it serves as a framework support for epithelium.
Adipose tissue - This type of tissues is specialized to store fats.

Dense Connective tissue - Fibres and fibroblasts are packed compactly in dense connective tissue. Tendons are
dense regular tissue that attach skeletal muscle to bones and ligaments attach bone to another bones. Collagen is the
dense irregular tissue present in the skin.

Blood —made up of plasma (i.e., liquid extracellular matrix); contains water, salts, and dissolved proteins; erythrocytes
that carry oxygen (RBC), leukocytes for defense (WBC), and platelets for blood clotting.

Connective tissue proper (ctp)—made up of loose connective tissue that is found in the skin and fibrous connective
tissue that is made up of collagenous fibers found in tendons and ligaments. Adipose tissues are also examples of
loose connective tissues that store fats which functions to insulate the body and store energy.

Cartilage —characterized by collagenous fibers embedded in chondroitin sulfate. Chondrocytes are the cells that
secrete collagen and chondroitin sulfate. Cartilage functions as cushion between bones.

Bone —mineralized connective tissue made by bone-forming cells called osteoblasts which deposit collagen. The
matrix of collagen is combined with calcium, magnesium, and phosphate ions to make the bone hard. Blood vessels
and nerves are found at a central canal surrounded by concentric circles of osteons.

Muscle Tissue—these tissues are composed of long cells called muscle fibers that allow the body to move voluntary
or involuntary. Movement of muscles is a response to signals coming from nerve cells. In vertebrates, these muscles
can be categorized into the following:
• Skeletal—striated; voluntary movements
• Cardiac—striated with intercalated disk for synchronized heart contraction; involuntary
• Smooth—not striated; involuntary

Nervous Tissue—these tissues are composed of nerve cells called neurons and glial cells that function as support
cells. These neurons sense stimuli and transmit electrical signals throughout the animal body. Neurons connect to
other neurons to send signals. The dendrite is the part of the neuron that receives impulses from other neurons while
the axon is the part where the impulse is transmitted to other neurons.