Body Tissues - In the human body we have four main tissues, these being Epithelial, Muscle, Connective and Nervous. Tissues are groups of similar cells carrying out specific functions.

Squamous - the word squamous means scaly to signify the 'flatness'.These cells are extremely flat with an oval nucleus forming alump in the centre. Theyre also positioned close together in random patterns, simple squamous epithelium is found on the walls of the lung aveoli and the  blood capileries.

Compound being,

2. To protect deeper structures, this can be found in the vagina, mouth, tongue and the oesophagus this is lined by stratified epithelia (simple) which then consist of layers being squamous, cuboidal or columnar cells which eventually become flattened due to pressure from below as the rech the surface.

 

Secondly, Muscle is an excitable tissue because it's capable of responding to stimuli, the three different types of muscle tissue are, striated, non-striated and cardiac.

3. Striated - also known as voluntary, skeletal or striped muscle is attached to the bones of the skeleton although some facial muscles are attached to skin.

Non-striated - also known as involuntary, smooth or plain muscle contains protein filaments.

Cardiac - this muscle is only found in the four chambers (atria and ventricles) of the heart. It is capable of rhythmically contracting without receiving any nervous stimuli.

Thirdly, Connective tissues are widely distributed throughout the body and lie beneath epithilial tissues which connect different parts of the internal structure. Connective tissues include blood, cartilage, bone, areolar tissue and adipose tissue.

4. Blood - consists of yellow plasma, plasma is mainly water that carries gases like oxygen and caron dioxide, nutrients like glucose and amino acids, salts, enzymes and hormones. There are to types of blood cell which are red blood cell which is responsible for carrying oxygen around the body and white blood cells which is responsible for fixing the body e.g. a healing wound that scabs over.

Cartilage - is a smooth, translucent firm substance that protects bone ends (joints) from friction during movement and forms the major facial features being the nose and external ear flaps

Bone - is a much harder substance than cartilage but can be worn away by friction, it's also responsible for the correct structure of your body that supports weight.

Areolar - this is seen in meat, which is the white,sticky material that connects all the muscle groups together, this can also be found in the breasts.

Adipose (fatty tissue) - is a variation of areolar tissue in which the adipose or fat cells have multiplied to obscure other cells and fibres

And Finally, nervous tissue, is only found in the nervous system and consitsts of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, receiving stimuli from both external and internal sources, the two types of nervouse tissue are neurones and neuroglia.

5. Neurones - highly specialised nerve cells which transmit nervous impulses which are only found in the braindand spinal cord

Neuroglia - connective tissues intermingled with neurones in the brain and spinal cord that offers support and protection.

Resources : Stretch, B and Whitehouse. M (editors)(2007) BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Health & Social Care Student Book 1