ATLAS OF HUMAN ANATOMY - G.L. Bilich - 2014
THE HUMAN BODY
INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY
TISSUES
Cells and their derivatives form tissues. A tissue is a structured community of cells and Extracellular matrix united by a common origin, Structure, and function. Four types of tissues are distinguished in The Human Body: epithelial, connective, muscular,
and nervous (Table 3). Each tissue develops from a specific germ layer. Epithelial Tissue originates from the ento-, ecto-, and mesoderm. Connective and muscular tissues are formed from the mesoderm (except for the Muscles of the iris and myoepithelial cells, which derive from the ectoderm). Nervous Tissue develops from the ectoderm.
Class="center">Table 3. Human Tissues
Type |
|
Epithelial tissue |
|
Covering epithelium Simple single-layered |
Protection, METABOLISM, absorption, transport, secretion, excretion |
Absorptive cells (microvilli) |
Absorption |
Ciliated cells |
Movement of substances |
Simple pseudostratified (cilia) |
Protection, movement of substances |
Transitional |
Protection |
Stratified |
Protection, secretion |
Secretion |
|
Epithelium with specialized properties |
|
Thymic epithelial cells |
Support, secretion |
Lens fibers |
Transmission of light rays |
Alveolocytes |
Gas exchange, secretion |
Spermatogenic |
Production of sperm |
Follicular |
Production of Female Sex Hormones. Trophic support of oocytes |
Sensory (stereocilia, microvilli) |
Reception of specific external stimuli in the Organs of Hearing, equilibrium, and smell |
Connective and supporting tissues |
|
Protection, metabolism |
|
Erythrocytes |
Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide |
Leukocytes |
Protection |
Platelets (non-cellular structures) |
Blood clotting, protection |
Proper Connective Tissues (loose fibrous, dense fibrous, elastic) |
Supportive, trophic, protective |
Connective Tissues with specialized properties (reticular, adipose, pigmented) |
Trophic, protective |
Hard skeletal |
Supportive |
Cartilage tissue |
|
Muscle tissue |
|
Cytology/cytology/32.html">Smooth muscle tissue |
Contraction (movement) |
Contraction (movement) |
|
Skeletal |
|
Cardiac |
|
Myoepithelial cells |
|
Myocytes of neural origin (non-striated) - muscles of the iris |
|
Nervous tissue |
|
Generation and transmission of impulses |
|
Neuroglia |
Supportive, trophic, protection, secretion |
Last update: 08/08/2026
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