Chapter 20 Flashcards
adherens junction
Cell junction that helps hold together epithelial cells in a
sheet of epithelium; actin filaments inside the cell attach to
its cytoplasmic face.
apical
Describes the top or the tip of a cell, structure, or organ; in
an epithelial cell, for example, this surface is opposite the
base, or basal surface.
basal
Situated near the base; opposite of apical
basal lamina
Thin mat of extracellular matrix, secreted by epithelial cells,
upon which these cells sit.
cadherin
Disease caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell
proliferation, followed by invasion and colonization of body
sites normally reserved for other cells.
cancer
Disease caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell
proliferation, followed by invasion and colonization of body
sites normally reserved for other cells.
cell junction
Specialized region of connection between two cells or
between a cell and the extracellular matrix.
cell wall
Mechanically strong fibrous layer deposited outside the
plasma membrane of some cells. Prominent in most plants,
bacteria, algae, and fungi, but not present in most animal
cells
cellulose micropibril
Long, thin polysaccharide fiber that helps strengthen plant
cell walls.
collagen
Triple-stranded, fibrous protein that is a major component
of the extracellular matrix and connective tissues; it is the
main protein in animal tissues, and different forms can be
found in skin, tendon, bone, cartilage, and blood vessels.
connective tissue
Tissues such as bone, tendons, and the dermis of the skin,
in which extracellular matrix makes up the bulk of the
tissue and carries the mechanical load.
desmosome
Specialized cell–cell junction, usually
formed between two epithelial cells, that
serves to connect the ropelike keratin
filaments of the adjoining cells, providing
tensile strength.
differentiated cell
Cell that has undergone a coordinated change in gene
expression, enabling it to perform a specialized function.
embryonic stem cell
An undifferentiated cell type derived from the inner cell
mass of an early mammalian embryo and capable of
differentiating to give rise to any of the specialized cell
types in the adult body
epithelium
Sheet of cells covering an external surface or lining an
internal body cavity.