The soft tissues

There are different types of soft tissue found in the body. The following are types of connective tissue and other supporting tissue.

Fat tissue is made up of tightly packed fat cells called adipocytes. It may also be called adipose tissue. Fat is found throughout the body, mostly under the skin of the buttocks, hips, waist and abdomen. It also surrounds organs, such as the kidneys. Fat cushions the body and provides padding between organs. It also helps keep the body warm. The body also stores fat and uses it for energy when you need it.

Fibrous tissue is connective tissue made up of rope-like parts called fibres. These fibres help body parts move, and keeps them strong and stable. Tendons (which attach muscle to bone), ligaments (which attach bone to another bone) and the inner layer of skin are made up of fibrous tissue. Fibrous tissue surrounds many organs and is also found in the walls of blood vessels.

There are 3 types of muscle: smooth muscle, skeletal muscle and cardiac (heart) muscle.

Smooth muscle is a type of muscle that works without you thinking about it (involuntary muscle). It’s found in the walls of organs including the stomach, intestines, bladder, uterus and blood vessels. Smooth muscle allows organs to relax and get bigger (expand) or tighten and get smaller (contract). For example, smooth muscle moves food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and blood through the blood vessels.

Skeletal muscle is a type of muscle that you control to move your body (voluntary muscle). Itʼs found mainly in muscles that attach to bones. Some skeletal muscles in the face attach to the skin. Skeletal muscle keeps the skeleton together and helps you stand upright. It also allows you to move different parts of your body, such as your arms and legs.

Cardiac (heart) muscle is a type of muscle that works without you controlling it. It forms the walls of the heart and allows the heart to pump blood.

Synovial tissue is thin and loose connective tissue that lines joints, such as elbows and knees. It also makes up the lining of fluid-filled sacs (called bursae) found in joints. Synovial tissue makes synovial fluid, which is a thick liquid that cushions joints and allows them to move easily.

Blood vessels are long, elastic hollow tubes that are found throughout the body. Arteries, veins and capillaries are types of blood vessels. Blood travels through blood vessels and carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones, waste and other products around the body.

Lymph vessels are small tubes that run throughout the body. They contain lymph fluid to collect and carry waste products, germs and damaged cells away from the body’s tissues.

Nerves are soft tissues that control all of the body’s functions and movements. Nerve tissue is made of 2 main types of cells – nerve cells (neurons) and glial cells (neuroglial cells).

Nerve cells send messages (electrical impulses) from one part of the body to another.

Glial cells support and protect the nerve cells. They act as the “glue” that helps neurons send messages throughout the body.

Most of the body’s nerve tissue is found in the brain and spinal cord, which is known as the central nervous system. Nerve tissue found outside of the brain and spinal cord is known as the peripheral nervous system. Nerve tissue is also called nervous tissue or neural tissue.