MAIN FEATURES OF ANIMAL TISSUES
| Tissue | Morphological features |
| Epithelial | Cells stay very close together with a very small amount of extracellular matrix interposed between them |
| Connective | Cells derived from mesenchymal cells and usually separated by differing amounts of extracellular matrix |
| Muscle | Elongated cells with little extracellular material between them and capable of contraction |
| Nervous | Most of its cells have extensions that form complex networks with other nervous cells and with cells of other tissues. Very little extracellular matrix |
| Tissue | Some of their main functions |
| Epithelial | Coating of external and internal surfaces of the body; transport of ions and molecules; secretion |
| Connective | Support of the whole body as well of its tissues and organs, filling of spaces, nourishment of cells of other tissues, bodily defense, secretion |
| Muscle | The contraction of its cells generates movement, secretion |
| Nervous | Generation, transmission and integration of nervous impulses; reception and transmission of sensory stimuli, secretion |