Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Anatomy > Epithelium > Flashcards

Epithelium Flashcards

1
Q

What are tissues?

A

A group of closely associated cells that perform related functions and are similar in structure.
-Between cells: non living extracellular material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 basic types of tissue?

A
  • epithelium -covering
  • connective tissue- support
  • muscle tissue - movement
  • nervous tissue - control
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is epithelium?

A

Sheet of cells that covers a body surface or lines a body cavity; also form most of the body’s glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the roles and functions of epithelia?

A

Roles: as interfaces and as boundaries

Functions:

  • protection
  • sensory reception
  • secretion
  • absorption
  • ion transport
  • filtration
  • formation of slippery surfaces for movement.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the special characteristics of epithelia?

A
  • cellularity
  • specialized contacts cell junctions
  • polarity
    • free upper (apical) surface
    • Lower (basal) surface contributing basal lamina to basement membrane

-support by connective tissue

  • Avascular but innervates
    • without vessels
    • with nerve endings

-regeneration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How can epithelia be classified according to shape?

A

Squamous- wider than tall (flattened appearance)

Cuboidal- as tall as wide

Columnar- taller than wide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How can epithelia be classified according to thickness?

A

Simple- one cell layer

Stratified- more than one layer of cells (which are named according to the shape of the cells in the apical layer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which epithelial cell classification is important for diffusion?

A

Squamous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which epithelial classification is important for secretion and absorption ? Why ?

A

Cuboidal and columnar

Larger cells because of machinery of production, packaging, and energy requirements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the 6 type of epithelial tissue?

A
  • simple squamous epithelium
  • simple cuboidal epithelium
  • simple columnar epithelium
  • pseudostratified epithelium
  • stratified squamous epithelium
  • transitional epithelium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Where would simple squamous epithelium be located?

A

Simple squamous epithelium may be located at sites of rapid diffusion, such as:

  • lining of the lung alveoli
  • lining of blood vessels
  • in the lining of major body cavities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is endothelium?

A

A simple squamous epithelium that lines the interior of the circulatory vessels and the heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the mesothelium?

A

Simple squamous epithelium that lines the peritoneal, pleural and pericardial cavities and covers the viscera

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Which body parts require for simple cuboidal epithelium?

A

Ducts of glands

  • small ducts - simple cuboidal epithelium
  • large ducts - stratified cuboid
    • N.B. deeper cells may also be cuboidal

Pigmented layer of retina

Surface of Ovary

Follicular cells of thyroid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which body parts use simple columnar epithelium?

A

Some usual locations

  • gall bladder
  • epithelium of digestive system
  • epithelium of uterus
  • uterine glands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is pseudostratified epithelium?

A

Appears stratified, typically with nuclei located in at least two more-or-less distinct levels. But in fact every cell rests on the basement membrane, so the epithelium is technically “simple”, in spite of appearances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where is pseudostratified epithelium found?

A

Found lining the respiratory system and in the excretory ducts of the male reproductive system

18
Q

What kind of pseudostratified epithelium is in the respiratory system?

A

Pseudostratified epithelium with goblet cells

19
Q

What are the stratified squamous epithelium?

A

Surface cells are squamous

Deeper cells may be cuboidal in nature and can regenerate

20
Q

What is the usual function of stratified squamous epithelium?

A

Usually protective in function. The outer layer may or may not be keratinized

Also used where transport is important

21
Q

Where are the stratified squamous epithelium found?

A

Gastrointestinal tract e.g. oesophagus, anus- non-keratinized

  • Vagina - non-keratinized
  • Skin - keratinized
22
Q

What are transitional epithelium?

A

Urothelium

Lines the distensible walls of the urinary tract

23
Q

Glands are formed from

A

Epithelial cells

24
Q

Describe the functioning of glands

A
  • production and secretion of needed substances
  • Aqeous (water-based) products
  • the protein product is made in rough ER, packed into secretory granules by Golgi apparatus, released from the cell by exocytosis
25
Q

What the classification of glands ?

A

Exocrine: external secretion onto body surfaces (skin) or into body cavities

Endocrine: secrete messenger molecules (hormones) which are carried by blood to target organs; “ductless” glands

By cell count: unicellular or multicellular

26
Q

Give an example of a unicellular exocrine glands

A

Unicellular: goblet cell scattered within epithelial lining of intestines and respiratory tubes

Product: mucin

Mucus is mucin and water

27
Q

What is distinctive about multicellular exocrine glands?

A

Epithelium-walled duct and a secretory unit

28
Q

Give some examples of exocrine gland products

A

Many types of mucus secreting glands

  • sweat glands of skin
  • oil glands of skin
  • salivary glands of mouth
  • liver(bile)
  • pancreas (digestive enzymes)
  • mammary glands (milk)
29
Q

Describe endocrine glands

A

Ductless glands

  • release hormones into extracellular shape
    • hormones are messenger molecules

-Hormones enter blood and travel to specific target organs

30
Q

List the epithelial surface features

A
  • lateral surfaces
  • basal surfaces
  • apical surfaces
31
Q

Describe the lateral epithelial cell surfaces

A
  • adhesion
  • tongue and groove wavy contours
  • cell junctions
32
Q

Describe the basal epithelial surface

A

Basal lamina: noncellular sheet of protein together with reticular fibers form basement membrane

33
Q

List the type of cell junctions

A
  • tight junctions
  • adherents junctions
  • desmosomes
  • gap junctions
34
Q

What are the functions of gap junctions?

A

Allow small molecules to move between cells

35
Q

What are the functions of desmosomes ?

A
  • anchoring junctions

- filaments anchor to the opposite side

36
Q

What are the functions of adherents junctions?

A

Transmembrane linker proteins

37
Q

What are the function of tight junctions?

A

Impermeable

38
Q

List the features if the apical features

A

Microvilli

Cilia

Flagellum

39
Q

What are cilia?

A

Whiplike motile extensions of the apical surface membranes

40
Q

What are flagellum?

A
  • long isolated cilium

- only found as sperm in human

41
Q

What are microvilli?

A

Maximize surface

  • finger like extensions of the plasma membrane of apical epithelial cells
  • on moist and mucus secreting epithelium
  • longest in epithelia that absorb nutrients (small intestine) or transport ions (kidneys)

Anatomy (29 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions