Tissues to Tattoos
Heather Shuck

1. There are four types of tissues, including epithelial, connective, muscle, and neural. Each tissue type has a special function in the human body. Epithelial tissues cover internal and external surfaces, line cavities and tubular structures, and serve essential fuctions (Martini & Bartholomew, 2012). Connective tissue provides a protective structural framework for other tissue types. It has three basic components, including specialized cells, extracellular protein fibers, and ground substance (Martini & Bartholomew, 2012). Muscle tissue is designed for contraction. The three types of muscle tissue are skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Neural tissue responds to stimuli and conducts electrical impulses throughout the body. Some areas of the body have simple squamous epithelium in protected regions where absorption takes place, such as the lining of ventral body cavities, linings of blood vessels and inner surfaces of the heart (Martini & Bartholomew, 2012). Stratified squamous epithelium are found where mechanical stresses are severe, such as the surface of the skin, the lining of the mouth, tongue, or esophagus (Martini & Bartholomew, 2012).
2. The four types of membranes are mucous, serous, cutaneous, and synovial. If the mucous membrane was damaged, the body would not be able to secrete mucus. It wouldn’t be able to lubricate certain areas, such as the mouth and throat, and it would damage them and become painful to swallow. If the serous membrane was damaged, there would be friction between the surfaces when an organ moves or changes shape. If the cutaneous membrane, or skin, was damaged, there would be open wounds, ready for infections to take place. You need your skin to protect the body. Finally, if the synovial membranes were damaged, there would be severe pain, as the bones would rub together when moving and damage each other.
3. Tattoos are permanent, due to the fact that the top layer of skin is pricked by the needle and ink is injected into the under layer of the skin, the dermis. Cells in the dermis are not shed and replaced like the epidermis and that is why tattoos are permanent. Henna tattoos are different from regular tattoos, because they are not inserted into the skin. They are made of dye and are placed at the top of the skin.
4. The three types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinomas, and malignant melanomas. Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (SCF, 2012). It is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. It often looks like open sores, red patches, or scars, caused by UV exposure. Squamous cell carcinomas is the second most common form of skin cancer. It is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the squamous cells, which compose the epidermis (SCF, 2012). Malignant melanomas is the deadliest skin cancer. It develops in the melanocytes, and can spread to other parts of the body (MedicineNet, 1996). This cancer is the least common of them all. Melanoma starts off as a mole, and grow abnormally.
5. All of the accessory glands play an important function in the integument system. First off, the hypodermis, or