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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

Tissue

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈtɪʃuː/nounCore term

In anatomy & physiology, tissue means: A group of similar cells, together with the material around them, that work together to do one job. The four basic types are epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue.

In Turkish: doku

How it is used

Used in histology, pathology and surgery: tissue sample, soft tissue, scar tissue, tissue damage. The study of tissues is histology. Usually uncountable when it means the material, but countable for types: 'the four basic tissues'.

Example sentences

  1. A small piece of tissue was sent to the lab for analysis.

  2. Muscle tissue can contract, while connective tissue mainly supports and connects other structures.

Common collocations

  • soft tissue
  • scar tissue
  • tissue sample
  • tissue damage
  • basic tissue types
  • cellThe smallest living unit of the body. Each cell has a membrane and cytoplasm, most also have a nucleus, and groups of similar cells form tissues.
  • organA part of the body made of two or more tissues that work together to carry out a particular function, such as the heart, liver, stomach or skin.
  • epitheliumTissue made of tightly packed cells that covers the body's surfaces and lines its cavities, tubes and glands, such as the outer layer of the skin and the lining of the gut.
  • connective tissueTissue that supports, connects and protects other tissues. Its cells are spread out in a matrix of fibers and ground substance; bone, cartilage, fat, tendons and blood are all types of it.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.