MAIN FEATURES OF ANIMAL TISSUES
| Tissue | Morphological features |
| Epithelial | The epithelial cells stay very close together. A very small amount of extracellular matrix exists between them |
| Connective | Its cells are derived from mesenchymal cells and are usually separated by a varying amounts of extracellular matrix |
| Muscle | Elongated cells capable of contraction, with little extracellular material between them |
| Nervous | Most 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; 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 |