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5.1: Introduction

  • Page ID
    53570
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    Introduction

    Tissues are collections of cells and the extracellular substances surrounding them working together to perform a specific function. The microscopic study of tissues is called histology. There are four main types of tissue: epithelial tissues, connective tissues, muscle tissues, and nervous tissues. Most body structures and organs contain all four types of tissue with epithelial tissues lining surfaces, connective tissues often with structural roles, muscle tissues causing movement, and nervous tissues sending and receiving signals to and from tissues. Therefore, these four tissue types are found together and support and interact with each other. The diagram below shows how body tissues are categorized.

    Tissues are organized into four main types: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Each category of tissues is further broken up into subcategories.

     

    Attributions

     

    Updated 2025.


    This page titled 5.1: Introduction is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

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