Final answer:
Muscle tissue is specialized to contract and enables movement in the body. It includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle types, distinguishing it from connective, nervous, and epithelial tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tissue that is specialized to contract is muscle tissue. Muscle tissue's primary function is to produce movement through contraction. The human body has three major types of muscle tissues: skeletal muscle, which is involved in voluntary movements; cardiac muscle, found exclusively in the heart; and smooth muscle, which is involved in various involuntary movements within body systems, such as the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
Connective tissue is different from muscle tissue in that it supports and binds other tissues in the body. It includes several cell types within substances like tendon, cartilage, bone, and even blood. Nervous tissue, on the other hand, is specialized in transmitting electrochemical signals through neurons and is found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Epithelial tissue serves as a protective covering for the external and internal surfaces of the body, including the lining of organs and glands.