Chapter 5 - Tissues

Question 1

Explain the structural organisation of the body

Answer 1

Cells - tissues - organs - systems - organisms
Cells - the smallest, most basic building block of the body
Tissues - a group of cells that are similar in structure and work together to carry out a particular task.
Organs - distinct structures made up of two or more types of tissues
Systems - a group of organs that work together to carry out a particular task.
Organisms - everything that lives - a living, functioning organ.

Question 2

What are the four types of tissue?

Answer 2

Epithelial tissue, muscular tissue, connective tissue, nervous tissue

Question 3

What is epithelial Tissue?

Answer 3

Also known as epithelium, epithelial tissue is a protective and lining tissue. The cells that make up epithelium are very closely knitted together. Examples of epithelium are ;

• outer layer of skin
• the lining of the stomach, intestines and other hollow organs
• the inside of the mouth

Question 4

What is connective Tissue?

Answer 4

Connective tissue provides support for the body and helps hold all the body parts together. Connective cells are not as closely knitted together as epithelium cells. They are separated from each other by large amounts of material that is not made up of cells and is known as matrix. Examples of connective tissue are ;

• blood
• bone
• cartilage
• tendons
• ligaments

Question 5

What is nervous tissue ?

Answer 5

Nervous tissue is made up of specialised nerve cells called neurons that have long projections from the body of the cell. When part of the neuron is stimulated, messages can be carried along these projections from one part of the body to another. Examples of nervous tissue are found in ;

• brain
• spinal cord
• nerves

Question 6

What is muscular tissue?

Answer 6

Muscular tissues are often referred to as muscle fibres and are able to respond to a stimulus by contracting. There are three different types of muscular tissue ;

1. Skeletal muscle (striated muscle) - the muscle attached to bones. They are under voluntary control so that we can move them when necessary.
2. Involuntary muscle (smooth or non-striated muscle) - muscles we cannot voluntarily move. Examples of this are the walls of stomach and intestine, the iris of the eye and in the uterus.
3. Cardiac muscle - involuntary, makes up most of the heart and pumps blood when it contracts.