TISSUE

Ramesh Chandra Saini

Associate Professor
DIMS Jaipur
 TISSUES
Definition
1.Tissues are groups of cells that have a similar structure and act
together to perform a specific function.
2.A tissue is a group of cells that usually have a common origin in an
embryo and function together to carry out specialized activities.

Histology is the science that deals with the study of tissues.

There are four main types of tissue each with subtypes. They are:
• Epithelial tissue or epithelium
• Connective tissue
• Muscle tissue
• Nervous tissue.
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
MUSCULAR TISSUE
NERVOUS TISSUE
 EPITHELIAL TISSUE
➢ This tissue type covers the body and lines cavities, hollow organs
and tubes. It is also found in glands.
➢ The structure of epithelium is closely related to its functions,
which include:
• protection of underlying structures from, for example,
dehydration, chemical and mechanical damage
• secretion
• absorption
The cells are very closely packed and the intercellular substance,
the matrix, is minimal.
The cells usually lie on a basement membrane, which is an inert
connective tissue made by the epithelial cells themselves.
Epithelial tissue may be:
• Simple: a single layer of cells
• Stratified: several layers of cells.
 I. SIMPLE EPITHELIUM
A. Simple squamous epithelium
1. Endothelium (lines heart, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels)
2. Mesothelium (forms epithelial layer of serous membranes)
B. Simple cuboidal epithelium
C. Simple columnar epithelium
1. Nonciliated (lacks cilia)
2. Ciliated (contains cilia)
D. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
1. Nonciliated (lacks cilia)
2. Ciliated (contains cilia)
 II. STRATIFIED EPITHELIUM

A. Stratified squamous epithelium*

1. Nonkeratinized (lacks keratin)
2. Keratinized (contains keratin)
B. Stratified cuboidal epithelium*
C. Stratified columnar epithelium*
D. Transitional epithelium or urothelium (lines most of urinary
tract)
 I. SIMPLE EPITHELIUM

➢ Simple epithelium is a single layer of cells that functions in

diffusion, osmosis, filtration, secretion, or absorption.
➢The types are named according to the shape of the cells, which
differs according to their functions.
 A. SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
➢ This is composed of a single layer of flattened cells .
➢ The cells fit closely together like flat stones, forming a thin and very smooth
membrane across which diffusion occurs easily.
Location
1. lines the cardiovascular and lymphatic system (heart, blood vessels, lymphatic
vessels), where it is known as endothelium .
2. Forms the epithelial layer of serous membranes (peritoneum, pleura,
pericardium), where it is called mesothelium.
3 Also found in air sacs of lungs, glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule of kidneys, inner
surface of tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Function
Present at sites of filtration (such as blood filtration in kidneys) or diffusion (such
as diffusion of oxygen into blood vessels of lungs) and at site of secretion in
serous membranes.
B. SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
 B. SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
This consists of cube-shaped cells fitting closely together lying on a basement
membrane .
location
➢ Covers surface of ovary
➢ lines anterior surface of capsule of lens of the eye
➢ forms pigmented epithelium at posterior surface of retina of
the eye
➢ It forms the kidney tubules and is found in some glands such as the
thyroid .
Function
Cuboidal epithelium is actively involved in secretion, absorption and/or
excretion.
 C . SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

This is formed by a single layer of cells, rectangular in shape, on a

basement membrane .
Two types
1. Nonciliated (lacks cilia)
2. Ciliated (contains cilia)
1. NONCILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 NONCILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
It is a single layer of nonciliated columnlike cells with oval nuclei near
base of cells; contains
(1) columnar epithelial cells with microvilli at apical surface
(2) goblet cells.
Location
Lines gastrointestinal tract (from stomach to anus)
ducts of many glands, and gallbladder.
Function
Secretion and absorption
2. CILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 2.CILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
It is a single layer of ciliated columnlike cells with oval nuclei near
base of cells.
Location
Lines some bronchioles (small tubes) of respiratory tract, uterine
(fallopian) tubes, uterus, some paranasal sinuses, central canal of
spinal cord, and ventricles of brain.
Function
Cilia beat in unison, moving mucus and foreign particles toward
throat, where they can be coughed up and swallowed or spit out.
F. CILIATED PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 F. CILIATED PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium appears to have several
layers because cell nuclei are at various levels.
All cells are attached to basement membrane in a single layer, but
some cells do not extend to apical surface.
When viewed from side, these features give false impression of a
multilayered tissue (thus the name pseudostratified; pseudo = false).
Location
Lines airways of most of upper respiratory tract.
Function
Secretes mucus that traps foreign particles, and cilia sweep away
mucus for elimination from body.
 II STRATIFIED EPITHELIA
➢ Stratified epithelia consist of several layers of cells of various
shapes.
➢ Continual cell division in the lower (basal) layers pushes cells
above nearer and nearer to the surface, where they are shed.
➢ Basement membranes are usually absent.
➢ The main function of stratified epithelium is to protect
underlying structures from mechanical wear and tear.
 a.Stratified squamous epithelium

THIS IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL LAYERS OF CELLS.

IN THE DEEPEST LAYERS THE CELLS ARE MAINLY
COLUMNAR AND, AS THEY GROW TOWARDS THE SURFACE,
THEY BECOME FLATTENED AND ARE THEN SHED.
TWO TYPES-
1.KERATINISED STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
2.NON-KERATINISED STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
A.STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
1.KERATINIZED STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
➢ This is found on dry surfaces subjected to wear and tear, i.e. skin,
hair and nails.
➢ The surface layer consists of dead epithelial cells that have lost
their nuclei and contain the protein keratin.
➢ This forms a tough, relatively waterproof protective layer that
prevents drying of the live cells underneath.
➢ The surface layer of skin is rubbed off and is replaced from below .
2.NONKERATINIZED STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

➢ Does not contain large amounts of keratin in apical layer.

➢ This protects moist surfaces subjected to wear and tear, and

prevents them from drying out, e.g. the conjunctiva of the eyes, the

lining of the mouth, the pharynx, the oesophagus and the vagina.
2.NONKERATINIZED STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
B.STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 B STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Basal layers in stratified columnar epithelium usually consist of
shortened, irregularly shaped cells; only apical layer has columnar.
Location
Lines part of urethra; large excretory ducts of some glands, such as
esophageal glands; small areas in anal mucous membrane; part of
conjunctiva of eye.
Function
Protection and secretion.
 C.TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM (UROTHELIUM)

This is composed of several layers of pear-shaped cells.

It lines several parts of the urinary tract including the bladder and
allows for stretching as the bladder fills.
Location
Lines urinary bladder and portions of ureters and urethra.
Function
Allows urinary organs to stretch and maintain protective lining while
holding variable amounts of fluid without rupturing.
C.TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM (UROTHELIUM)
C.TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM (UROTHELIUM)
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Connective tissue is the most abundant tissue in the body.
Connective tissue consists of two basic elements: extracellular matrix
and cells.
Major functions of connective tissue are:
• Binding and structural support
• Protection
• Transport
• Insulation
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
Embryonic cells called mesenchymal cells give rise to the cells of
connective tissue.
The different types of cell involved include:
1.Fibroblasts
2.Fat cells,
3.Macrophages
4.Leukocytes
5.Mast cells.
 1.FIBROBLASTS
➢ Fibroblasts are large, flat cells with branching processes. They are
present in all the general connective tissues, and usually are the
most numerous.
➢ They manufacture collagen and elastic fibres and a matrix of
extracellular material.
➢ Very fine collagen fibres, sometimes called reticulin fibres, are found
in highly active tissue, such as the liver and reticular tissue.
➢ Fibroblasts are particularly active in tissue repair (wound healing)
where
➢ they may bind together the cut surfaces of wounds or form
granulation tissue following tissue destruction
1.FIBROBLAST
 2. MACROPHAGES
➢ Macrophages are phagocytes that develop from monocytes, a type of
white blood cell.
➢ These are large irregular shaped cells with granules in the cytoplasm.
➢ Some are fixed, i.e. attached to connective tissue fibres, and others are
motile.
➢ They are an important part of the body’s defence mechanisms because
they are actively phagocytic, engulfing and digesting cell debris, bacteria
and other foreign bodies.
➢ Their activities are typical of those of the monocyte–macrophage defence
system, e.g. monocytes in blood, Kupffer cells in liver sinusoids, sinus-
lining cells in lymph nodes and spleen, and microglial cells in the brain.
 3. PLASMA CELLS (PLASMOCYTES)

Plasma cells (plasmocytes) are found in many places in the body,

but most plasma cells reside in connective tissue, especially in
the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.
3. PLASMA CELLS (PLASMOCYTES)
 4. MAST CELLS (MASTOCYTES)
➢ Mast cells (mastocytes) are involved in the inflammatory response, the
body’s reaction to injury or infection and can also bind to, ingest,
and kill bacteria.
➢ They are found in loose connective tissue, under the fibrous capsule
of some organs, e.g. liver and spleen, and in considerable numbers
round blood vessels.
➢ Their cytoplasm is packed with granules containing heparin,
histamine and other substances, which are released when the cells are
damaged by disease or injury.
➢ Release of the granular contents is called degranulation.
 5. ADIPOCYTES

Adipocytes are fat cells or adipose cells, connective tissue cells that
store triglycerides (fats).

They are found deep to the skin and around organs such as the heart
and kidneys.
 6. LEUKOCYTES (WHITE BLOOD CELLS)

➢ Leukocytes (white blood cells) are not found in significant numbers

in normal connective tissue.
➢ However, in response to certain conditions they migrate from blood
into connective tissue.
➢ For example, neutrophils gather at sites of infection, and eosinophils
migrate to sites of parasitic invasions and allergic responses.
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
A connective tissue’s extracellular matrix is the material located
between its widely spaced cells.
The extracellular matrix consists of protein fibers and ground
substance, the material between the cells and the fibers.
The extracellular matrix consists of two major components:
(1) the ground substance
(2) the fibers.
 GROUND SUBSTANCE
Ground Substance As noted earlier, the ground substance is the
component of a connective tissue between the cells and fibers.

The ground substance may be fluid, semifluid, gelatinous, or calcified.

It supports cells, binds them together, stores water, and provides a

medium for exchange of substances between the blood and cells.
➢ Ground substance contains water and an assortment of large
organic molecules, many of which are complex combinations of
polysaccharides and proteins.

➢ The polysaccharides include hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate,

dermatan sulfate, and keratan sulfate.

➢ Collectively, they are referred to as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

 FIBERS
Fibers Three types of fibers are embedded in the extracellular matrix
between the cells:
1.Collagen fibers,
2.Elastic fibers,
3.Reticular fibers
They function to strengthen and support connective tissues.
➢ Collagen fibers are very strong and resist pulling or stretching, but
they are not stiff , which allows tissue flexibility.
➢ Elastic fibers, which are smaller in diameter than collagen fibers,
branch and join together to form a fibrous network within a
connective tissue.
➢ Elastic fibers are strong but can be stretched up to 150% of their
relaxed length without breaking.
➢ Reticular fibers, consisting of collagen arranged in fine bundles with
a coating of glycoprotein, provide support in the walls of blood
vessels and form a network around the cells in some tissues, such as
areolar connective tissue, adipose tissue, nerve fibers, and smooth
muscle tissue.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
I. Embryonic connective tissue B. Supporting connective tissue
A. Mesenchyme 1. Cartilage
B. Mucous (mucoid) connective tissue a. Hyaline cartilage
II. Mature connective tissue b. Fibrocartilage
c. Elastic cartilage
A. Connective tissue proper 2. Bone tissue
1. Loose connective tissue a. Compact bone
a. Areolar connective tissue b. Spongy bone
b. Adipose tissue C. Liquid connective tissue
c. Reticular connective tissue 1. Blood
2. Lymph
2. Dense connective tissue
a. Dense regular connective tissue
b. Dense irregular connective tissue
c. Elastic connective tissue
 I. EMBRYONIC CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Embryonic connective tissue is of two types:

Mesenchyme and Mucous connective tissue.

Mesenchyme is present primarily in the embryo, the developing human

from fertilization through the first two months of pregnancy, and in
the fetus, the developing human from the third month of pregnancy.
 A. MESENCHYME
Description
Mesenchyme has irregularly shaped mesenchymal cells embedded in
semifluid ground substance that contains delicate reticular fibers.
Location
Almost exclusively under skin and along developing bones of embryo;
some in adult connective tissue, especially along blood vessels.
Function
Forms almost all other types of connective tissue.
 B. MUCOUS (MUCOID) CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Description
Mucous (mucoid) connective tissue has widely scattered
fibroblasts embedded in viscous, jellylike ground substance that
contains fine collagen fibers.
Location
Umbilical cord of fetus.
Function
Support.
II MATURE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 II.MATURE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
A.Connective Tissue Proper—
1.Loose Connective Tissue-
a. Areolar connective tissue
Areolar connective tissue is one of the most widely distributed connective
tissues; consists of fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular) arranged randomly and
several kinds of cells (fibroblasts, macrophages, plasma cells, adipocytes, mast
cells, and a few white blood cells) embedded in semifluid ground substance.
Location
In and around nearly every body structure in subcutaneous layer deep to skin
Papillary (superficial) region of dermis of skin lamina propria of mucous
membranes around blood vessels, nerves, and body organs.
Function
Strength, Elasticity, Support.
B. ADIPOSE TISSUE
 B. ADIPOSE TISSUE
Adipose tissue has cells derived from fibroblasts (called adipocytes) that are
specialized for storage of triglycerides (fats) as a large, Cell fills up with a single,
large triglyceride droplet, and cytoplasm and nucleus are pushed to periphery of
cell.
With weight gain, amount of adipose tissue increases and new blood vessels form.
Location
Wherever areolar connective tissue is located: subcutaneous layer deep to skin,
around heart and kidneys, yellow bone marrow, padding around joints and behind
eyeball in eye socket.
Function
Reduces heat loss through skin; serves as an energy reserve; supports and protects
organs.
Adipose tissue is also an excellent source of stem cells, which are used in
rejuvenation medicine to repair or replace damaged tissue.
C. RETICULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 C. RETICULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Description
Reticular connective tissue is a fine interlacing network of reticular
fibers (thin form of collagen fiber) and reticular cells.
Location
Stroma (supporting framework) of liver, spleen, lymph nodes; red
bone marrow; reticular lamina of basement membrane; around
blood vessels and muscles.
Function
Forms stroma of organs; binds smooth muscle tissue cells; filters and
removes worn-out blood cells in spleen and microbes in lymph
nodes.
2. DENSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 2. DENSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
A. DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Description
Dense regular connective tissue forms shiny white extracellular matrix;
mainlycollagen fibers regularly arranged in bundles with fibroblasts
in rows between them.
Collagen fibers (protein structures secreted by fibroblasts) are not
living, so damaged tendons and ligaments heal slowly.
Location
Forms tendons (attach muscle to bone), most ligaments (attach bone to
bone), and aponeuroses (sheetlike tendons that attach muscle to
muscle or muscle to bone).
Function
Provides strong attachment between various structures. Tissue
structure withstands pulling (tension) along long axis of fibers.
B. DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 B. DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Description
Dense irregular connective tissue is made up of collagen fibers;
usually irregularly arranged with a few fibroblasts.
Location
Often occurs in sheets, such as fasciae (tissue beneath skin and around
muscles and other organs), reticular (deeper) region of dermis of
skin, fibrous pericardium of heart, periosteum of bone,
perichondrium of cartilage, joint capsules, membrane capsules
around various organs (kidneys, liver, testes, lymph nodes); also in
heart valves.
Function
Provides tensile (pulling) strength in many directions.
C. ELASTIC CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 C. ELASTIC CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Description
Elastic connective tissue contains predominantly elastic fibers with
fibroblasts between them; unstained tissue is yellowish.
Location
Lung tissue, walls of elastic arteries, trachea, bronchial tubes, true
vocal cords, suspensory ligaments of penis, some ligaments between
vertebrae.
Function
Allows stretching of various organs; is strong and can recoil to
original shape after being stretched. Elasticity is important to
normal functioning of lung tissue (recoils in exhaling) and elastic
arteries (recoil between heartbeats to help maintain blood flow).
 CARTILAGE
Cartilage consists of a dense network of collagen fibers and
elastic fibers firmly embedded in chondroitin sulfate, a gel-
like component of the ground substance.
Cartilage can endure considerably more stress than loose and
dense connective tissues.
The strength of cartilage is due to its collagen fibers, and its
resilience (ability to assume its original shape after
deformation) is due to chondroitin sulfate.
Cartilage does not have a blood supply.
The cells of mature cartilage, called chondrocytes, occur singly or in
groups within spaces called lacunae in the extracellular matrix.
A covering of dense irregular connective tissue called the
perichondrium surrounds the surface of most cartilage and
contains blood vessels and nerves and is the source of new cartilage
cells.
Since cartilage has no blood supply, it heals poorly following an
injury.
There are three types of cartilage:

1.Hyaline cartilage

2.Fibrocartilage

3.Elastic cartilage
A. HYALINE CARTILAGE
 A. HYALINE CARTILAGE
Description
Hyaline cartilage contains a resilient gel as ground substance and appears in the body
as a bluish-white, shiny substance .
Fine collagen fibers are not visible with ordinary staining techniques).
Prominent chondrocytes are found in lacunae surrounded by perichondrium
(exceptions: articular cartilage in joints and cartilage of epiphyseal plates, where
bones lengthen during growth).
Location
Most abundant cartilage in body; at ends of long bones, anterior ends of ribs, nose,
parts of larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchial tubes, embryonic and fetal skeleton.
Function
Provides smooth surfaces for movement at joints, flexibility, and support; weakest
type of cartilage and can be fractured.
B. FIBROCARTILAGE
 B. FIBROCARTILAGE

Description
Fibrocartilage has chondrocytes among clearly visible thick bundles
of collagen fibers within extracellular matrix; lacks perichondrium.
Location
Pubic symphysis (where hip bones join anteriorly), intervertebral
discs, menisci (cartilage pads) of knee, portions of tendons that
insert into cartilage.
Function
Support and joining structures together. Strength and rigidity make it
the strongest type of cartilage.
C. ELASTIC CARTILAGE
 C. ELASTIC CARTILAGE
Description
Elastic cartilage has chondrocytes in threadlike network of elastic
fibers within extracellular matrix; perichondrium present.
Location
Lid on top of larynx (epiglottis), part of external ear (auricle),
auditory (eustachian) tubes.
Function
Provides strength and elasticity; maintains shape of certain
structures.
 BONE TISSUE
Bones store calcium and phosphorus; house red bone marrow,
which produces blood cells; and contain yellow bone marrow, a
storage site for triglycerides.
Bones are organs composed of several different connective tissues,
including bone or osseous tissue , the periosteum, red and yellow
bone marrow, and the endosteum (a membrane that lines a space
within bone that stores yellow bone marrow).
Bone tissue is classified as either compact or spongy, depending on
how its extracellular matrix and cells are organized.
 COMPACT BONE
The basic unit of compact bone is an osteon or haversian system .
Each osteon has four parts:
1. The lamellae are concentric rings of extracellular matrix that consist of
mineral salts (mostly calcium and phosphates), which give bone its
hardness and compressive strength, and collagen fibers, which give bone its
tensile strength.
The lamellae are responsible for the compact nature of this type of bone
tissue.
2. Lacunae, as already mentioned, are small spaces between lamellae that
contain mature bone cells called osteocytes.
3. Projecting from the lacunae are canaliculi, networks of minute canals
containing the processes of osteocytes. Canaliculi provide routes for
nutrients to reach osteocytes and for wastes to leave them.
4. A central canal or haversian canal contains blood vessels and
nerves.
Function
Support, protection, storage; houses blood-forming tissue; serves as
levers that act with muscle tissue to enable movement.
Spongy bone lacks osteons. Rather, it consists of columns of bone
called trabeculae, which contain lamellae, osteocytes, lacunae, and
canaliculi. Spaces between trabeculae are filled with red bone
marrow.
BLOOD
 BLOOD TISSUE
Blood, one of the liquid connective tissues has a liquid extracellular matrix called blood
plasma and formed elements.
Blood plasma is a pale yellow fluid that consists mostly of water with a wide variety of
dissolved substances— nutrients, wastes, enzymes, plasma proteins, hormones,
respiratory gases, and ions.
Suspended in the blood plasma are formed elements—red blood cells (erythrocytes), white
blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).
Red blood cells transport oxygen to body cells and remove some carbon dioxide from
them.
White blood cells are involved in phagocytosis, immunity, and allergic reactions.
Platelets participate in blood clotting.
Function
Red blood cells: transport oxygen and some carbon dioxide; white blood cells: carry on
phagocytosis and mediate allergic reactions and immune system responses; platelets:
essential for blood clotting.
 LYMPH
Lymph is the extracellular fluid that flows in lymphatic vessels.
It is a liquid connective tissue that consists of several types of
cells in a clear liquid extracellular matrix that is similar to blood
plasma but with much less protein.
The composition of lymph varies from one part of the body to
another. For example, lymph leaving lymph nodes includes many
lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, in contrast to lymph from
the small intestine, which has a high content of newly absorbed
dietary lipids.
 MUSCULAR TISSUE
Consists of elongated cells called muscle fibers or myocytes that can
use ATP to generate force.
As a result, muscular tissue produces body movements, maintains
posture, and generates heat.
It also provides protection.
Based on location and certain structural and functional features,
muscular tissue is classified into three types:
❖ Skeletal

❖ Cardiac

❖ Smooth
 MUSCULAR TISSUE
Description
Skeletal muscle tissue consists of long, cylindrical, striated fibers (striations are
alternating light and dark bands within fibers that are visible under a light
microscope). Skeletal muscle fibers vary greatly in length, from a few
centimeters in short muscles to 30–40 cm (about 12–16 in.) in the longest
muscles.
A muscle fiber is a roughly cylindrical, multinucleated cell with nuclei at the
periphery.
Skeletal muscle is considered voluntary because it can be made to contract or
relax by conscious control.
Location
Usually attached to bones by tendons.
Function
Motion, posture, heat production, protection.
CARDIAC MUSCLE FIBERS
CARDIAC MUSCLE FIBERS
 B. CARDIAC MUSCLE TISSUE
Description
Cardiac muscle tissue consists of branched, striated fibers with usually only
one centrally located nucleus (occasionally two).
Attach end to end by transverse thickenings of plasma membrane called
intercalated discs, which contain desmosomes and gap junctions.
Desmosomes strengthen tissue and hold fibers together during vigorous
contractions.
Gap junctions provide route for quick conduction of electrical signals (muscle
action potentials) throughout heart. Involuntary (not conscious) control.
Location
Heart wall.
Function
Pumps blood to all parts of body.
NERVOUS TISSUE
 NERVOUS TISSUE

Nervous tissue consists of only two principal types of cells:

neurons and neuroglia.
Neurons, or nerve cells, are sensitive to various stimuli.
They convert stimuli into electrical signals called nerve action
potentials (nerve impulses) and conduct these action potentials
to other neurons, to muscle tissue, or to glands.
Most neurons consist of three basic parts: a cell body and two
kinds of cell processes—dendrites and axons.
The cell body contains the nucleus and other organelles. Dendrites are
tapering, highly branched, and usually short cell processes
(extensions).
They are the major receiving or input portion of a neuron.
The axon of a neuron is a single, thin, cylindrical process that may be
very long. It is the output portion of a neuron, conducting nerve
impulses toward another neuron or to some other tissue.
Function
Exhibits sensitivity to various types of stimuli; converts stimuli into
nerve impulses (action potentials); conducts nerve impulses to other
neurons, muscle fibers, or glands.