Epithelium Flashcards
Simple Squamous Epithelium
Structure: Wider than tall |
Function: passage, transport (ex. blood in circulatory)
Location: lining of: blood vessel | lymph vessel | closed body cavities | some tubules | cornea
Types of Simple Squamous Epithelium & Location
Endothelium: line blood vessels & lymph vessels
Mesothelium: line closed body cavities, cover organs
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Structure: same length & width (judgement-based)
Function: ducts to carry secretory product
Location: line: ducts of glands (salivary) | kidney ducts
Simple Columnar Epithelium
Structure: taller than wide
plan or modified (+/- goblet cells/microvilli)
Function: protective | immune cells | secretory/absorptive
Location: line: gall bladder | GI tract | organs for
secretion/absorption
Pseudostratified Epithelia (Types & Structure)
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
Transitional Epithelium
All cells contact basement membrane but not all reach free surface
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
Structure: all cells attach to BM, not all reach surface | taller than wide | +/- modification (goblet cells, cilia, microvilli) | no line of nuclei at surface
Function: absorption
Location: line: respiratory tract | reproductive tract
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium w/ Goblet Cells (F)
Function: mucus secretion to prevent dehydration
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium w/ Cilia (F)
Function: trapping
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium w/ Stereocilia (S&F)
Structure: actin | finger-like projections
Function: fluid-absorption
Transitional Epithelium
Structure: increase size as layers closer to surface | “pillow-shaped” | no epithelial pegs
Function: stretching
Location: urinary tract
Apical Membrane Extensions (purpose & types)
Mediates absorption & secretion into lumen b/c epithelial cells have sealed apical ends
Types: Microvilli | Glycocalyx | Stereocilia | Cilia/Flagella
Microvilli
Structure: actin filaments for anchorage
Function: increase surface area for absorption
Location: epithelia of kidney & intestine
Brush Border
Microvilli + Glycocalyx
Seen as striated border
Function: absorption
Glycocalyx
“Cell coat” of glycoproteins | rich in carbohydrates
Protect free surface of epithelia
Stereocilia
Structure: “finger-like” projections | actin | very long
Function: fluid-absorption
Location: epithelium of epididymis | inner ear
Cilia / Flagella
Structure: uniform | axoneme (skeleton) from microtubules
inserted into basal body (centriole); anchored in cytoplasm
Single cilia = flagella
Function: bending, motility (by ATP w dynein motor protein)
Junctions (F & Types)
Function: strength | hold cells together
Types:
Impermeable Junction = Zonula Occludens (tight junction)
Adhering Junction = Zonula Adherens (terminal web/bar, desmosome)
Communicating Junction = Gap Junction (Nexus)
Zonula Occludens
Impermeable junction | “tight junction”
Structure: network-like | multiple belts of adhesion
Function: controls diffusion | strong seal of junction
Zonula Adherens
Adhering Junction | Terminal Bar & Terminal Web
Structure: filled w/ transmem proteins | actin (microfilaments) insert electron-dense plaque
Function: attach cytoplasm of cells together | strength/contraction
Terminal Web (S&F)
Structure: layering / network of actin across cell
Function: Strength & Increase Surface Area
Macula Adherens
Adhering Junction | Desmosome
Structure: VERY strong | disc shape | intermediate filament (cytokeratin) insert into plaques –> form hairpin loops
Complete desmosomes: between cells
Hemidesmosomes: to basal lamina
Function: adhesion of cells
Communicating Junction
Gap Junction (Nexus)
Structure: bridged by connexons (hexamer)
Function: intercellular communication | nutrition