Which type of tissue is responsible for transmitting impulses throughout the body?

Nerve tissue is the type of tissue that specializes in the transmission of impulses throughout the body. It is composed of neurons and glial cells. Neurons are the primary cells within this tissue that carry signals, enabling communication between different parts of the body as well as between the body and the brain. The unique structure of neurons, including dendrites and axons, facilitates the rapid transmission of electrical signals, essential for functions such as reflexes, sensory perception, and cognitive processes.

While muscle tissue is responsible for movement, and epithelial tissue covers body surfaces and lines cavities, neither of these types are involved in the transmission of impulses. Connective tissue provides structural support and helps bind other tissues and organs together but does not transmit neural impulses like nerve tissue does. Therefore, nerve tissue is distinctively responsible for this critical function in the body.