Essay on Blood and Connective Tissue

Submitted By jennifermontague
Words: 885
Pages: 4

Distinction task Jen Montague
How epithelium tissue protects the body from disease
Epithelial tissue covers all body surfaces including body cavities and hollow organs although they have many functions including protecting our body. Because epithelial tissue covers the whole surface of our body it forms a barrier between our internal body and the external world which may contain pathogens which could cause harm to our body. It is not very often pathogens do get though epithelial cells are attached to underlying connective tissue by a non-cellular basement membrane
Structure of epithelia tissue Epithelial cells may cuboidal, columnar or squamous in shape and can be arranged in single or multiple layers. Squamous are usually flat and smooth and look a lot like a pavement because they fit so closely together like tiles and they have little intercellular matrix. They also have a horizontal flattened, elliptical nucleus which reflects the cells actual shape too. Because they are smooth it means fluids can move easily, squamous are normally found in the lining of blood vessels and other areas were passive diffusion takes place. Ciliated epithelia are found in the lungs and airways and are tall, narrow and have cilia (fine hair like growths) on their free surfaces. Epithelia are also a solid structure
How blood protects us form disease
Our blood is our next line of defence, usually after a pathogen has entered the body and into the blood stream it will get recognised by a phagocyte (a type of white blood cell) which will start to move around the pathogen and start to engulf it once engulfed a lysosome (digestive enzyme) will break down the invading pathogen which protects our body from harm off the pathogen. Our blood also protects us by if we get a cut or a scrape it will clot forming a scab which stops pathogens from getting inside.
Structure of blood
Blood is a connective tissue which means that it is spread out; blood contains erythrocytes (red blood cells) which do not have a nucleus so it has more space to bind with oxygen, white blood cells which do contain a nucleus and engulf invading pathogens, platelets which help with blood clotting, proteins, water, hormones, heat and dissolved salts/Nutrients. Blood is also a liquid structure which means all of its contents are in watery plasma.
How skeletal muscle helps provide structure and support
Skeletal muscles help maintain our posture and keep us upright and can help us stay balanced the muscle can provide support because it is attached to bones by tendons and together they keep soft tissue in place but still allow movement. These muscles can also help support our vital organs and can help protect them from injury.

How bone helps provide structure and support
Our bones make up a skeleton which is the framework of the body our Skelton has many functions which include Movement, Protection, Blood cell production, Storage, Endocrine regulation and structural support. There are actually two hundred and six bones in the adult body all of which range in size and weight, bones have to be strong enough to hold our weight but also allow movement bones allows us to stay in shape and be able to stand upright. Our bones also provide somewhere for muscle to attach to these are commonly called skeletal muscles.
Bone structure
There are two types of bone tissue compact and spongy. Compact is around the outside and it is practically solid because it is so dense compact tissue is arranged