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

Muscle tissue is primarily responsible for the contraction and movement of body parts. This type of tissue is specialized for contraction, which allows for both voluntary movements, such as those performed by skeletal muscle, and involuntary movements, such as those carried out by smooth muscle in the walls of organs. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Each type functions in different areas of the body, with skeletal muscle allowing for movement of limbs and other body parts, cardiac muscle enabling the pumping of blood, and smooth muscle facilitating movements in hollow organs.

Epithelial tissue mainly serves protective and absorptive roles, covering surfaces and lining cavities, which does not involve contraction for movement. Nervous tissue is responsible for transmitting signals and coordinating actions but does not perform the physical movement itself. Connective tissue provides support, binds other tissues together, and serves various functions including nutrient storage and transport, but it does not actively contract. Thus, muscle tissue stands out as the key type responsible for producing movement through contraction.