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Connective tissue performs such diverse functions as binding, support, protection, insulation and transport. Despite their diversity, all connective tissues are comprised of living cells embedded in a non-living cellular matrix consisting of extracellular fibers or some type of ground substance. Thus, what distinguishes the different connective tissues is the type of matrix. Examples of connective tissue would include bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, loose connective tissue, adipose (fat) tissue, and even blood (although some authorities would classify blood as a vascular tissue).
Muscle tissue is specialized for contraction. There are three kinds of muscle tissue:
1. Smooth muscle (designed for slow, sustained, involuntary contractions) is made up of spindle-shaped cells with one nucleus per cell.
2. Skeletal, or striated muscle, which is associated with voluntary contractions, contains cylindrical cells with many nuclei per cell arranged in bundles.
3. Cardiac (heart) muscle is striated like skeletal muscle, but each cell contains only one nucleus. |
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