1. Body Tissues
Human Body Systems
© 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. Tissue Basics
Tissues are groups of cells that are similar in structure that work together to perform a specific function.
There are four main tissue types:
Epithelium
Connective tissue
Muscle
Nervous tissue

3. Epithelium
Epithelium, or epithelial tissue, forms the linings, coverings, and glandular tissue of the body.
One type of epithelium forms the outer layer of the skin
Another type of epithelium lines the air sacs of the lungs
Cells in epithelium are packed tightly together to form continuous sheets

4. Connective Tissue
Connective tissue protects, supports, and binds together other body tissues.
Connective tissue is made up of different types of cells in varying amounts of a nonliving substance around the cells, called the matrix.
Examples of connective tissue include:
Bone
Cartilage
Adipose tissue (fat)
Blood

5. Muscle Tissue
Muscle tissue is specialized to contract and cause movement.
There are three main types of muscle tissue:
Skeletal muscle
Cardiac muscle
Smooth muscle
Can you guess the location and function of each muscle type?

6. Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is composed of specialized cells called neurons that receive and send electrical signals in the body.
Nervous tissue responds to stimuli and transmits impulses and together with supporting cells, makes up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.