Lecture 2: The tissues of the human body : Epithelia Flashcards
What is the function of epithelial tissue?
A group of similar cells that work together to:
* cover body surfaces
* line hollow organs, body cavities, and ducts
* It also forms glands.
3 main functions:
* Protective (especially from abrasion)
* Secretory (onto a free surface)
* Selective Barriers (limit or aid transfer)
How are epithelial cells arranged?
Arranged in continuous sheets as single or multiple layers
What are cell junctions & what are the junctions that hold epithelial tissues
Cell junctions are connection points between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells.
There are namely 5 types:
* Tight junction
* Adherens junction
* Desmosomes
* Gap junction
* Hemidesmosomes
(TADGH)
What is the apical surface?
The edge surface of epithelial tissue facing the body surface, body cavity, lumen of an internal organ, or a tubular duct that receives cell secretions. They may contain cilia or microvilli.
What is the lateral surface?
The surface of an epithelial cells which face the adjacent cells on either side - these surfaces contain junctions (gap, desomosome, tight, adherens) gdta
What is the basal surface?
The deepest layer of epithelial cells facing the basement membrane - these may contain hemidesmosome junctions.
What is the cytoskeleton?
A structure that helps cells maintain their shape and internal organization, and it also provides mechanical support that enables cells to carry out essential functions like division and movement.
What are the components of the cytoskeleton?
Microfilaments - such as actin
Intermediate filament - such as keretin
Microfilaments
Bundles beneath cell membrane and cytoplasm
strength; alter cell shape; link cytoplasm to membrane; tie cells together; muscle contraction
(mlast)
Intermediate filaments
Strength
What is ACTIN?
A type of microfilament - protein bundles beneath cell membrane and cytoplasm that determine cell shape and structure and allow for muscle contraction.
What is KERATIN?
A type of intermediate filament - structural roles in the cytoplasm of cells, also allow movement of material within cytoplasm
Where are tight junctions found?
stomach, intestines, and bladder
Describe the structure of tight junctions
- Located near the apical surface
- Individual sealing Strands
- Transmembrane
- Many proteins, but two key ones: claudins & occludins
- Join the cytoskeleton of adjacent cells e.g via ZO-1 to actin
- In a ‘sewing-like’ appearance
- No gap is left
- More strands = tighter junction
What is the function of tight junctions?
Joins adjacent plasma membranes tightly together keeping cell polarity (ie electrically tight) by preventing migration of proteins between apical and basal surfaces
What are claudins and occludins?
Transmembrane proteins that form the tight junction
Describe the structure of adherens junction
Two plaques (patches of protein tissue) on each membrane linked together by transmembrane glycoproteins (cadherin) - belt-like appearance
Cadherin links to catenins (present in membrane) which link to actin filaments
What is the function of adherens junction? (I)
- Apical, but more basal than tight junction
- Other cells are less continuous and are called “adhesion plaques”
Adherens junctions prevent cell separation from tension forces like in contractions
What is the function of adherens junction? (II)
- “belt desmosome” or “adhesion belts” (zonula adherens) in some epithelial cells
- Have a plaque layer of proteins on the inside of the cell to join actin to cadherins
Cadherin
Cadherin is the transmembrane glycoprotein that fills the gap in adherens junction and desmosome junction.
catenin
Catenin is a type of protein present in the plasma membrane that links the cadherin to the actin filaments of the cells.
Describe the structure of desmosome junctions (I)
- lateral wall
- Have “plaque” just like adherens junction
- resist shearing force
- Cadherin spans the gap and binds to desmoplakin
- Links cell surface to keratin (a cytoskeletal intermdeiate filament)
- Keratin spans from one desmosome to another on other side of the cell - structural integrity
- eg; they bind muscle cells; most common in skin epithelium and cardiac cells of the heart to prevent pulling apart
Lateral
wall
Have
Plaque just like adherens junction