In biology, tissue is an assembly of similar cells and their extracellular matrix from the same embryonic origin that together carry out a specific function. [1][2] Tissues occupy a biological organizational level between cells and a complete organ. Accordingly, organs are formed by the functional grouping together of multiple tissues. [3] The English word "tissue" derives from the French word ...
Tissue, in physiology, a level of organization in multicellular organisms; it consists of a group of structurally and functionally similar cells and their intercellular material. By definition, tissues are absent from unicellular organisms. Learn more about tissues in this article.
Learn about tissue types and functions in humans, other animals, and plants. Get examples, quizzes, and a PDF study guide.
Body Tissue Medically Reviewed. Last updated on 04/01/2025. One step up from cells are tissues. These collections of cells handle specific jobs throughout your body. There are four main types of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous. But people commonly use the term “tissue” informally to talk about parts and structures throughout the body, too.
The Four Types of Tissues Epithelial tissue, also referred to as epithelium, refers to the sheets of cells that cover exterior surfaces of the body, line internal cavities and passageways, and form certain glands. Connective tissue, as its name implies, binds the cells and organs of the body together and functions in the protection, support, and integration of all parts of the body. Muscle ...
Tissue Membranes A tissue membrane is a thin layer or sheet of cells that covers the outside of the body (for example, skin), the organs (for example, pericardium), internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body (for example, abdominal mesenteries), and the lining of the moveable joint cavities. There are two basic types of tissue membranes: connective tissue and epithelial ...