Specialized Cells & Tissues

Nervous tissue

A body tissue that carries electrical messages back and forth between the brain and every other part of the body.

Vessel element

A short, wide water-conducting cell found in the xylem of some plants.

Root hair cell

Absorbs water and mineral ions from the soil.

Nerve cells

Cells that carry information in the body (animal)

Multicellular

Consisting of many cells

Unicellular

Made of a single cell

Guard cell

Pairs of cells that surround stomata and control their opening and closing. This allows plants to control the flow of gases into and out of leaves.

Muscle cells

Shorten (contract) to cause movement. (animal)

connective cells

cells that make up connective tissues like blood and fat (animal)

Sieve tube element

phloem cell that moves sugars through plants.

Companion cell

provides support for sieve tube elements in plants

Epithelial cells

skin cells that cover the external body surface and line the internal surfaces of organs (animal)

phloem

the vascular tissue in plants that conducts sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

Connective Tissue

tissue that provides support and protection. Stores fat, produces blood and repairs damage.

Muscle tissue

tissue that shortens or contracts to move bones or substances within the body.

xylem

vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant