What is tissue?

Inside the Body

	Tweet	Pin It

0

by Kate Simmons >> more about the author

Have you ever used a group of blocks to build a structure, such as a bridge or a castle? Did you know that your body is made of building blocks as well?! These building blocks of life may not look like wooden rectangles, but our bodies are made of trillions of them, which we call cells! These cells group together to do important jobs for your body. A collection of cells that perform similar jobs is called tissue.

What types of tissue exist? Many! For example, your bones are made of spongy tissue called cancellous tissue, your muscles are made of muscular tissue, and the tissue right below your skin is called subcutaneous tissue. These tissues perform jobs that help you to survive. For example, your body’s connective tissue holds the different parts of your body together!

Are people the only living things made of tissue? Absolutely not! The bodies of animals contain many types of tissue, such muscular and connective tissue, while plants contain tissue like vascular tissue, which transports fluid and nutrients.

What’s the name of a group of tissues that do a special job? An organ! Your body contains many organs, such as your heart, lungs and kidneys.