Chapter 8

Tissues of the Human Body

Tissues are a group of cells that share a common embryonic origin. Microscopic observation reveals that the cells in a tissue share morphological…

Epithelial tissues are large sheets of cells covering all of the surfaces of the body. These surfaces can be internal or external, for example, skin,…

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical…

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other…

Epithelial tissues are classified according to the shape of the cells and the number of cell layers formed. Cell shapes can be squamous (flattened…

Simple epithelium consists of a single layer of cells that lines body cavities and blood vessels. The shape of the cells in the epithelium reflects…

Stratified epithelium consists of several stacked layers of cells. They provide the durability to withstand constant physical and chemical attacks.…

The glandular epithelium is made of one or more epithelial cells modified to synthesize and secrete chemical substances. Glandular epithelia can be…

Exocrine glands are classified as unicellular and multicellular. The unicellular glands are scattered single cells, such as goblet cells, found in…

Exocrine glands are those that release their secretions through ducts. Based on their mode of secretion, they can be classified into merocrine,…

Exocrine glands produce and release a variety of glandular products. Exocrine glands can be classified into serous, mucous, or mixed types based on…

Connective tissues are one of the four main tissue types in humans that are extensively present in the body. They are characterized by cells embedded…

Connective tissues perform a broad range of functions in the body. Their primary function is to connect and link different tissues in the body and…

The connective tissues have different properties and functions in the human body. They are broadly categorized into proper, supporting, or fluid…

During early development, the embryo forms two types of connective tissues— the mesenchyme and mucoid connective tissue. The mesenchyme is the…

Connective tissue proper is a class of connective tissue that encompasses all mature connective tissues except bone, cartilage, blood, and lymph.…

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are…

One of the significant functions of connective tissue is connecting tissues and organs. Unlike epithelial tissue that is composed of cells closely…

Loose connective tissue is found between many organs. Its main function is to absorb shock and bind tissues together. It also allows water, salts,…

Dense connective tissue contains more collagen fibers than loose connective tissue. As a consequence, it displays greater resistance to stretching.…

Fascia, a thin layer of fibrous connective tissue, is distributed throughout the body. It demarcates and forms a supportive covering over skeletal…

Bone tissue forms the internal skeleton of vertebrate animals, providing structure to the body. Bone Matrix Bone, or osseous tissue, is a connective…

A tissue membrane is a thin layer of cells that covers the outside of the body, the organs, internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the…

Blood and lymph are fluid connective tissues. They contain cells, also known as formed elements, circulating in a liquid extracellular matrix, the…

Following injury, the integrity of the injured tissues must be reestablished. For example, in skin tissue, wound repair involves coordination among…

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic,…

The salivary glands are a site of significant interest for researchers interested in multiple aspects of human disease. One goal of researchers is to…

A human alveolar cell coculture model is described here for simulation of the alveolar epithelial tissue barrier composed of alveolar epithelial type…

Fibroblasts are a highly heterogeneous cell population implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In human skin dermis, fibroblasts have…