Classification of Tissue Types

This page is part of the section about the structure and function of different Tissue Types and indicates how the tissues mentioned in this section may be described in relation to each other, e.g. Adipose Tissue, Areolar Tissue, Blood Tissue, Bone Tissue etc. are all different types of "Connective Tissue". To read about the individual tissue types, see the links listed on the left.

There are Four (4) Basic Types of Animal Tissue:

Each of the tissue-types listed in the panel on the left falls into one of the four categories above.
However, the four "Basic Types" of animal tissues can be sub-divided further as each includes several different sub-types of the tissue, each being specialised to meet specific needs and/or perform particular tasks.

1. Epithelial Tissue

Epithelial tissue exists in many forms and can be classified or sub-divided in different ways.

Types of Epithelial Tissue:

			Types of Epithelial Tissue (in this classification)
Covering and Lining Epithelial Tissue
	Classification by Cell Shape:
		Squamous
		Cuboidal
		Columnar
		Transitional
	Classification by Arrangement of Layers:
		Simple Epithelium	Simple squamous epithelium, Simple cuboidal epithelium, Nonciliated simple columnar epithelium, Ciliated simple columnar epithelium.
		Stratified Epithelium	Stratified squamous epithelium, Stratified cuboidal epithelium, Stratified columnar epithelium, Transitional epithelium.
		Pseudostratified columnar Epithelium	Pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
Glandular Epithelial Tissue
		Endocrine Glands	(Tissue of) Endocrine Glands
		Endocrine Glands	(Tissue of) Exocrine Glands

Each of the sub-divisions of epithelial tissue identified above can be described in terms of its structure (using both text and diagrams), location, and function within the body.

 

2. Connective Tissue

Connective tissues serve the general purpose of supporting and connecting the tissues of the body, and vary considerably in structure and composition. Teaching materials (incl. textbooks and websites) sub-divide this tissue category in various different ways - hence it is useful to be aware of variations and overlap in classifications and terminology.

Types of Connective Tissue:

Embryonic Connective Tissue
			Mesenchyme
			Mucous connective tissue
Mature Connective Tissue
	Loose Connective Tissue:
			Areolar Tissue
			Adipose Tissue
			Reticular Tissue
	Dense Connective Tissue:
			Dense Regular Connective Tissue (White Fibrous Tissue)
			Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
			Elastic Connective Tissue (Yellow Elastic Tissue)
	Cartilage Tissue:
			Hyaline Cartilage
			Fibrocartilage
			Elastic Cartilage
	Bone (Osseous) Tissue:
			Compact Bone
			Spongy Bone
	Blood Tissue:
			Erythrocytes
			Thrombocytes
			Leucocytes
	Lymphatic Tissue:
			Lymph

 

3. Muscular Tissue

There are three (3) types of muscular tissue:

Skeletal Muscle (Tissue) -	located throughout the body and under conscious (i.e. "voluntary") control, main function movement of the structures of the body, and the body as a whole, e.g. by walking, running, etc.. More about Skeletal Muscle [in the Glossary].
Cardiac Muscle (Tissue) -	which is found only in the heart and is important for effective blood-flow through the heart. More about Cardiac Muscle [in the Glossary].
Smooth Muscle (Tissue) -	involuntary muscle tissue located around the walls of many internal structures such as the stomach and intestines and important for aiding the passage of materials/fluids through those structures. More about Smooth Muscle [in the Glossary].

 

4. Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissue consists of two (2) main types of cells:

Nerve Cells (also known as Neurons or Neurones) -	whose purpose is to transmit (electrical) nerve impulses that move information around the body. .
Neuroglia (also known as simply Glia) -	which support and protect nerve cells, depending on the particular type of glia. Examples of types of glia include astrocytes, ependymal cells, microglial cells, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells.

Further information about each of the basic types of animal tissue is included on the pages indicated.