Epithelial Tissue Flashcards
Epithelial tissue
WHAT + FUNCTION
- Sheet of cells that covers a body surface or lines a body cavity.
Function
1. Protection
2. Absorption
3. Filtration
4. Excretion
5. Secretion
6. Sensory Reception
2 types of Epithelial tissue
(1) Covering and lining epithelium
- Forms outer layer of the skin,
- Lines the open cavities of digestive, respiratory systems etc.
- Cover walls or organs of closed ventral cavities.
(2) Glandular epithelium
- Surrounds glands within the body.
4 characteristics of epithelial tissue
(1) Polarity
(2) specialized contacts
(3) Supported by connective tissue
(4) Avascular and innervated
Polarity
All epithelium has an apical surface (facing the lumen) and a lower attached basal surface (faces underlying tissue) that differ in structure and function.
Specialised contacts
Epithelial cells fit close together and form a continuous sheet. They do this with tight junctions and desmosomes.
Supported by connective tissue
The basement membrane reinforces the epithelium and helps to resist stretching and tearing.
Avascular and innervated
- contains no blood vessels + supplied by nervous fibres.
- high ability to regenerate and can reproduce itself as long as it receives adequate nutrition.
Simple epithelial
single layer of cells
Stratified epithelium
two or more stacked cell layers
squamous cells
flat and scale-like
cuboidal cells
box like
Columnar cells
tall, column-shaped
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Function
- Protects areas exposed to abrasion
Location
- Linings of oesophagus, mouth/ external part of skin
Simple squamous epithelium
Function
- to absorb, secrete and filtrate
Location
- where diffusion/ fliteration occurs eg. alveoli
Simple cuboidal epithelium
Function
- to absorb + secrete
- display cilia on there surface
Location
- in small ducts of glands + kidney tubules