If you’re reading this, you were probably a lot like me in school and zoned out when the teacher droned about the cells and tissues.
Growing up I never thought it was information I needed to be taught; I definitely didn’t expect to find it interesting later in life, or to be explaining it here in an article.
The fact of the matter is, though, that this stuff is important to keep in mind when we look toward taking care of our own bodies, or just understanding ourselves to a greater level. In general, it’s good to know more than to know less; who knows? It could be useful to us in the future – then we’ll have wanted to be paying attention when listening to the subject of cells and tissues.
But first thing’s first:
In this article series, I’m going to go into the basics of human anatomy. The goal is to teach everyone general information about things they might have missed in school or might never have been taught in the first place.
None of these articles will go deeply into any specific topic but I encourage you to let your curiosity drive you and look up more in-depth into all of this!
Generally speaking, I try to do one “An Intro Into Our Topic”, but this article is different in that there are two distinct subjects that we’re covering – namely both cells and tissues. So for that reason, I have two introductions laid out here:
So let’s get into it!
An Introduction To Cells
Have you ever heard the phrase: “Cells are the building blocks of life”?
Well, it’s true, though that phrase makes things seem simple.
Cells are more than simple building blocks, they’re critical components that make up all living organisms. Without cells, life as we know it would not be possible. These fundamental building blocks play an essential role in maintaining the functionality and survival of organisms.
An Introduction To Tissues
No, not those kinds of tissues!
Conversely, the tissues we’re talking about today are groups of cells that work together to perform a specific function. if cells are footsoldiers, tissues are like battalions or armies.
Different types of tissues make up organs, which then work together to form organ systems.
So What Do We Need To Know About Cells?
I found this interesting: So, cells may differ in their size, shape, and function, but they all share common characteristics. And all cells are enclosed in a plasma membrane. This thing contains genetic material in the form of DNA and can synthesize proteins – which is just a fancy way of saying that it makes proteins from within itself.
Moreover, cells aren’t just the top dogs of literally all living matter – they also have a crucial role in maintaining the genetic information of an organism.
What does this mean? Well, I’ll tell you!
Let’s turn our attention to DNA:
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is what contains the genetic information of every living thing. This pretty important part of us is located in the nucleus of the cell (which is like the center of the cell. A teeny tiny area).
During cell division (the process in which a parent cell splits into two daughter cells), DNA is replicated to ensure that each new cell receives a complete set of genetic information. Without DNA in each of our cells, we cease to be who we are and would quite promptly crumble to pieces like a sand castle in a wave!
That whooooleeee process is simply called “mitosis”.
The Four Main Types Of Tissues
Now let’s dive into tissues!
There is a lot of in-depth, detailed study surrounding this subject as well, but we won’t go too far down the rabbit hole today.
Right now, I only want to talk about the four main types of tissues:
- Epithelial tissue covers the surface of the body and lines the internal organs and cavities. This type of tissue provides a protective barrier and plays a crucial role in the exchange of substances between the body and the external environment. For example, the epithelial tissue in the lungs helps in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during respiration.
- Connective tissue provides support and structure to the body. This type of tissue includes bone, cartilage, and adipose tissue. Connective tissue also contains cells that produce and secrete extracellular matrix, which is essential for tissue repair and wound healing.
- Muscle tissue is responsible for the movement and contraction of various body parts. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle is responsible for voluntary movement, while cardiac and smooth muscle are responsible for involuntary movement, such as the contraction of the heart and digestive tract, respectively.
- Nervous tissue is specialized for communication and control within the body. This tissue consists of neurons, which transmit electrical signals, and glial cells, which support and protect the neurons. Nervous tissue plays a crucial role in the coordination of bodily functions, such as movement, sensation, and cognition.
I hope this post was helpful! If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to leave a suggestion in the comments!