Key Functions and Types of Animal Tissues Explained
Before delving further into the concept of anatomy and morphology, let us first get familiar with the terminologies.
Anatomy is a branch of Biology which deals with the study of the structure of living beings. To put simply, studying the internal functioning and structure of any living being can be termed as anatomy.
Animal Morphology
Morphology is the branch of biology which studies the external structure, shape, and size of a living organism. Such studies help us in understanding the internal as well as external structure of a living being, whether its a human or animals.
Morphology can be segregated into three kinds, as shown below.
Cellular Morphology – It is imperative for determining the structure, form, size, and shape of cells.
Tissue Morphology – Tissues may change with age, and this helps determine those changes in structure, size, and form of tissues.
Organ Morphology – It studies the shape, size, colour, and pattern of external organs present in a living organism.
To understand better, we will discuss animal morphology of a cockroach.
Anatomy and Morphology of Cockroach
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The image above shows a cockroach and its various labelled body parts. Let us understand the animal morphology and anatomy of a cockroach further.
Morphology –
The adult cockroaches, known as Periplaneta Americana, are approximately 34 to 53 mm long and have wings which extend beyond the tip of the abdomen in male species.
A cockroach’s external structure is primarily divided into three regions – Head, thorax, and abdomen.
Its entire body is covered with a protective covering known as Chitinous exoskeleton.
A triangular section formed by fusing six segments is the head section of a cockroach which has a pair of compound eyes. The antennas ascend from the layer resting in front of eyes named as membranous sockets.
The mouth portion has a pair of mandibles and maxillae along with labrum and labium. It also has a median flexible lobe which acts as its tongue.
The head is then connected with thorax via prothorax (neck). It also has mesothorax and metathorax from which first and second pair of wings arise respectively.
The abdomen portion has 10 segments in both male and female cockroaches.
Analogy –
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The alimentary canal inside a cockroach’s body, which is responsible for digestion, is divided into three kinds – foregut, midgut, & hindgut.
Inside the mouth opening, there is a tubular structure named pharynx present which goes through a narrow passage into the crop, which is a sac-like structure.
Foregut helps in crushing the consumed food; midgut is responsible for enzyme secretion, and hindgut for absorbing water and salts.
There are about 6 to 8 blind tubules present at the site connecting foregut to midgut which is responsible for secreting juices. These are known as hepatic caeca.
At the place connecting midgut and hemgut, you can see several filamentous Malphigian tubules.
Blood vascular system of cockroaches is poorly developed and open.
The respiratory system of a cockroach functions like a network of the trachea which has thin branching tubes and about 10 pairs of holes named as spiracles.
The male reproductive system of cockroach includes a testes pair, and a vas deferens arises from it. This connects to the ejaculatory duct and opens into a gonopore male.
Cockroach female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries which are formed with 8 ovarian tubules groups.
Now that you have understood this topic thoroughly, it will be easier for you to attempt the questions in the exam. To strengthen your knowledge of a subject and get an in-depth idea of the concept, you can go through additional study materials available in our website. You can also download Vedantu’s app to access the notes anytime.
FAQs on Anatomy and Morphology of Animal Tissues Made Easy
1. What is the key difference between anatomy and morphology when studying animal tissues?
The key difference lies in the scope of study. Morphology deals with the study of the external form and appearance of an organism and its parts, such as shape, size, and colour. For example, observing the segmented body of an earthworm is morphology. In contrast, anatomy deals with the study of the internal structure and organisation of an organism, such as the arrangement of organs, bones, and tissues. For example, dissecting an earthworm to study its digestive tract is anatomy.
2. What are the four primary types of animal tissues as per the NCERT syllabus?
As per the CBSE and NCERT syllabus for the 2025-26 session, the four primary types of animal tissues are:
Epithelial Tissue: Forms coverings and linings on body surfaces and cavities.
Connective Tissue: Supports, connects, and separates different types of tissues and organs.
Muscular Tissue: Composed of cells specialised for contraction, causing movement.
Nervous Tissue: Responsible for coordinating and controlling many body activities by transmitting nerve impulses.
3. What is the main function of epithelial tissue and where is it found?
The main functions of epithelial tissue are protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration, and sensory reception. It acts as a barrier, protecting underlying tissues from injury, pathogens, and dehydration. It is found covering the entire outer surface of the body (skin) and lining internal organs, cavities, and ducts, such as the lining of the digestive tract, lungs, and blood vessels.
4. Can you provide some examples of different types of connective tissue?
Connective tissue is the most abundant and widely distributed tissue type. Examples include:
Loose Connective Tissue: Areolar and adipose tissue found beneath the skin.
Dense Connective Tissue: Tendons (which connect muscle to bone) and ligaments (which connect bone to bone).
Specialised Connective Tissue: This category includes cartilage, bone, and blood.
5. What is the unique property of muscular tissue?
The unique property of muscular tissue is its ability to contract, or shorten, upon stimulation. This property, known as contractility, is responsible for all types of movement in the body, from walking and lifting to the beating of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive system. The three types are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle, each with a specific role.
6. Why is blood considered a specialised connective tissue?
Blood is considered a specialised connective tissue because it meets two key criteria. Firstly, it originates from the mesoderm (the middle germ layer) of the embryo, just like other connective tissues. Secondly, it connects various body systems by transporting substances like oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products. Its unique feature is its fluid extracellular matrix (plasma), in which cells like RBCs and WBCs are suspended, rather than being fixed in a solid matrix like bone or cartilage.
7. How does the structure of a neuron relate to its function in the nervous system?
The structure of a neuron is perfectly adapted for its function of transmitting electrochemical signals. The dendrites are short, branched extensions that receive signals from other neurons. The cell body (cyton) contains the nucleus and processes these signals. The long, slender projection called the axon is specialised to carry nerve impulses away from the cell body over long distances to other neurons, muscles, or glands. This distinct structure ensures one-way, rapid communication across the body.
8. How do the four primary tissue types work together to form an organ like the small intestine?
In the small intestine, all four tissue types work in coordination:
Epithelial Tissue: Forms the inner lining (mucosa) responsible for secreting enzymes and absorbing nutrients.
Connective Tissue: The submucosa layer, made of connective tissue, contains blood vessels and nerves that support the epithelium and transport absorbed nutrients.
Muscular Tissue: Layers of smooth muscle (muscularis) contract to churn food and propel it along the tract (peristalsis).
Nervous Tissue: Nerves embedded within the walls coordinate the contractions and secretions, regulating the entire digestive process.
9. What is the importance of studying the anatomy of a frog or cockroach in biology?
Studying the anatomy of organisms like the frog and cockroach is important as it provides a representative model for understanding the organ systems of invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively. It allows students to observe the fundamental body plan and how different tissues are organised into functional organs and systems (digestive, circulatory, reproductive). This comparative study helps in understanding evolutionary relationships and the adaptation of organ systems across different animal groups, including humans.
