Epithelium Flashcards
(33 cards)
Basic tissue types
Epithelium, Connective tissue, Muscle, Nerve
How do you characterize epithelium?
Shape and number of layers
Epithelium
closely aggregated polyhedral cells, strong adhesion, forms cellular sheets
Connective tissue
cells produce an abundance of extracellular material (extracellular matrix), support nourishment, protection
Muscle
Movement, contractility
Nerve
transmission of impulses
How to identify Epithelial tissues-Type
squamous/cuboidal/columnar/transitional, number of layers
How to identify epithelial tissue- structure
Shape of cell and position of nucleus
how to identify epithelial tissue: function
Covering/lining/protecting surfaces, absorption, secretion, proliferation, contractility (myoepithelial cells)
How to identify epithelial tissues- location
Found throughout the body (covers body surface, lines organs and vessels)
Characteristics of epithelial tissue
Forms cellular sheets, cells in close contact, produce very little intercellular substance- possess many junctional complexes (multicellular adhesion)
Secrete an ECM at base of cell, anchoring the epithelium to the underlying CT
Avascular (no blood or lymphatic supply)- nutrients and waste diffuse
Cell regions are polarized
Epithelial tissue embryonic origin: Endoderm
gut, respiratory, urinary, bladder,pancreas, liver
Epithelial tissue- ectoderm
skin/glands of skin
Epithelial tissue- mesoderm
epithelial linings
Simple
1 layer of cells
Stratified
2 or more layers of cells
Morphology of cells in surface layer
Squamous
Cuboidal
Columnar
Transitional
Junctional compexes- Zona occludens
Tight junctions- forms a tight seal preventing a
seal between epithelial cells (transmembrane protein – claudin and occludin)
Junctional complexes- zona Adherens
provides firm adhesion (“glue”) between cells
(linked by cadherins to catenin which is linked by actin-binding proteins to actin [*actin filaments form terminal web (possesses
contractile proteins that provide microvilli with contractile properties)]
Junctional complexes- Macula Adherens (Desmosome)
provides firm adhesion (“spot weld”) between cells (extracellular side – cadherins, cytoplasmic side – various anchoring proteins in a dense plaque and intermediate filaments (e.g.cytokeratin, desmin or vimentin)
Junctional complexes- Communicating Junction
provides rapid exchange of chemical and electrical signals allowing coordination of cellular activity (protein connexins form connexons (forms pores between cells)
Tight junctions
Most apical portion of cell
Band completely encircles the cell
Fuses the outer leaflets of plasma membranes between adjacent cells - tight seal formed
Function is to prevent materials from entering the lateral border of cells
Hemidesmosomes
Transmembrane proteins are integrins*
Function is to increase adhesion to basal lamina
Located on basal cell surface
Basal lamina
Components secreted by epithelial cells
Specialized structure that cells rest on
Structure visible only at EM level
Lamina densa and/or lamina lucida (laminin and proteoglycan)