Which type of tissue is responsible for contraction and movement of the body?

Muscular tissue is primarily responsible for contraction and movement within the body. This type of tissue is composed of specialized cells that can shorten and generate force. There are three types of muscular tissue: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Skeletal muscle, which is attached to bones, allows for voluntary movements. Cardiac muscle makes up the heart and is responsible for pumping blood involuntarily. Smooth muscle is found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the intestines and blood vessels, and it also functions involuntarily to facilitate various bodily processes.

In contrast, connective tissue primarily serves to support, bind, and protect other tissues and organs, rather than being directly involved in movement. Epithelial tissue forms protective layers and is responsible for absorption, secretion, and sensation but does not facilitate movement directly. Nervous tissue, while crucial for the transmission of impulses that can lead to muscle contraction, does not itself contract; it primarily functions in communication within the body. Therefore, muscular tissue is the clear choice for its direct role in contraction and movement.