Epithelial Tissue Flashcards
Describe the composition of microvilli. What proteins are present? Where are they located?
core is formed by actin filaments bound together by fimbrin and fascin, and are anchored to the membrane by myosin I
The apex is formed by villin
(striated border of small intestine and brush border of kidney)
What are the 3 major characteristics of epithelial tissue?
- An exposed free surface
- little to no extracellular matrix
- avascular
Describe the composition of stereocilia. Where are they found?
core formed by actin filaments (similar to microvilli)
(Epididymis and ear cochlea)
Describe the composition of cilia. Where are they located?
10 pairs microtubules that form the axoneme
At its base, each cilium is attached to the centriole (basal body, which is formed by 9 triplets of microtubules w/o a central pair)
Respiratory tract and oviduct
What disease is cause by a genetic defect of ciliary proteins? What are the consequences of this disease?
primary ciliary dyskinesia
- embryological pathologies
- impaired development skull sinuses
- no mucus removal from lungs
- infertility
How are junctional complexes visualized with a light microscope?
terminal bars
What type of cell junction is formed by sealing strands of transmembrane proteins that bind membranes of 2 adjacent cells? What is the major function of this type of junction?
occluding junctions; zonula occludens virtually impermeable, prevent diffusion by blocking paracellular pathways
Found in cells w/ secretory or absorptive role
What type of anchoring junction connects the actin filaments of adjacent cells? What actin binding proteins are present? Peripheral protein? Transmembrane link protein?
Zonula adherens
Actin binding: vinculin, alpha actinin
peripheral: catenin
Transmembrane link : cadnerin (Ca++ dependent, loss is associated with cancer)
What type of anchoring junction connects the intermediate filaments of two cells? Where are they commonly found? Intracellular plaque? Transmembrane proteins? What disease is caused when these junctions fall apart?
desmosomes (macula adherens) skin and muscles
intracellular plaque: desmoplakin that IF go through
transmembrane proteins: cadherin pemphingus (mucous membrane blistering)
What type of junction allows for diffusion of small molecules and ions between cytoplasm of adjacent cells? describe the composition of these channels
communicating or gap junctions each channel formed by a pair of connexons each connexon is composed of 6 subunits, connexins
What is the function of the basement membrane? What are its 2 layers?
separates epithelium from underlying connective tissue
- Basal lamina: most external; belongs to epithelium (collagen IV and laminin)
- Reticular lamina: deep layer; belongs to connective tissue (thin collagen fibers)
What type of anchoring junction connects the actin cytoskeleton of a cell to the extracellular matrix? actin-binding protein? peripheral protein? transmembrane protein?
Focal adhesions
actin-binding: vinculin and alpha-actinin
peripheral protein: talin (actin binding to transmembrane)
transmembrane: integrin (Ca++ independent)
What type of anchoring junction connects the intermediate filaments of the cell cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix? intracellular plaque? transmembrane proteins?
Hemidesmosome
intracellular plaque: desmoplakin
transmembrane proteins: integrin family
Where are simple squamous epithelium found and what is its major function?
lining vascular system, body cavities, parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule, alveoli of lungs
- barrier
- diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide
What is the name for simple squamous epithelium that lines walls of blood vessels and the heart? What is the name for simple squamous epithelium that cover internal organs (pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities
- endothelium
- mesothelium