Epithelium vocab Flashcards
Functions of epithelia
- protect underlying tissues
- provide selective barrier between a lumen and underlying tissue
- synthesize substances like hormones, saliva for secretion
- transport substances by endo- and exocytosis
Characteristics of epithelia
- composed of continuous sheets of cells
- have specialized cell junctions
- are polarized
- are avascular
squamous
long, flat, much wider than tall
cuboidal
roughly even width and height
columnar
taller than wide
simple
one layer of cells only
stratified
have more than one layer of cells- one contacting basement membrane, one on free surface, maybe some layers in between
pseudostratified
appear stratified but are not; all cells contact basement membrane but not all reach apical surface; nuclei found at two levels
goblet cells
unicellular exocrine glands that secrete mucus onto a free surface; found in simple or pseudostratified epithelia
endothelium
simple squamous epithelium that lines the heart and all blood and lymphatic vessels
mesothelium
simple squamous epithelium that lines pleural and peritoneal cavities
metaplasia
chronic irritation in epithelia is prolonged so normal epithelia replaced by stratified squamous epithelia- very resistant to stress; reversible change
functions of basement membrane
- separate and bind epithelium and connective tissues
- form a selective sieve-like barrier to regulate which molecules and cells cross interface between tissues
- establish polarity of epithelium
- guide repair
Lamina rara
clear layer that lies directly adjacent to basal surface of epithelia
lamina densa
darkly stained layer that lies immediately beneath lamina rara; together they form the basal lamina
lamina reticularis
secreted by cells in the adjacent connective tissue; third component of basement membrane