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What is a tissue?

Tissues are groups of cells with a common structure (form) and function (job).
There are four main tissues in the body – epithelium, muscle, connective tissue and nervous tissue.
Tissues are composed of groups or layers of cells, which collectively perform a specific function. Different types of tissues have different structures that are specific to their function. Tissues can be held together by a sticky coating called an ‘extracellular matrix’ or the matrix may weave the cells of tissues together. The Latin word for tissue is derived from the verb texere, “to weave”.