Lecture 2: The tissues of the human body : Epithelia Flashcards
What is the function of epithelial tissue?
A group of similar cells that work together to cover body surfaces and line hollow organs, body cavities, and ducts; it also forms glands.
3 main functions: Protective, Secretory, and Selective Barriers
What are cell junctions?
Cell junctions are connection points between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells. There are namely 5 types: gap junction, adherens junction, desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and tight junction.
What is the apical surface?
The edge surface of epithelial tissue facing the body surface, body cavity, lumen of an internal organ, or a tubular duct that receives cell secretions. They may contain cilia or microvilli
What is the lateral surface?
The surface of an epithelial cells which face the adjacent cells on either side - these surfaces contain junctions (gap, desomosome, tight, adherens)
What is the basal surface?
The deepest layer of epithelial cells facing the basement membrane - these may contain hemidesmosome junctions.
How are epithelial cells arranged?
Epithelial cells are arranged into flat, continuous sheets and can be comprised of single or multiple layers
What is the cytoskeleton?
A structure that helps cells maintain their shape and internal organization, and it also provides mechanical support that enables cells to carry out essential functions like division and movement.
What are the components of the cytoskeleton?
Microfilaments - such as actin
Intermediate filaments - such as keratin
What is ACTIN?
A type of microfilament - protein bundles beneath cell membrane and cytoplasm that determine cell shape and structure and allow for muscle contraction.
What is KERATIN?
A type of intermediate filament - structural roles in the cytoplasm of cells, also allow movement of material within cytoplasm
Describe the structure of tight junctions
Located near the apical surface
Strands of transmembrane proteins (claudins and occludins) link adjacent plasma membranes in a ‘sewing-like’ appearance
No gap is left
What is the function of tight junctions?
Joins adjacent plasma membranes tightly together keeping cell polarity (ie electrically tight) by preventing migration of proteins between apical and basal surfaces
Where are tight junctions found?
Epithelial tissue lining stomach, intestines, and bladder
What are claudins and occludins?
Transmembrane proteins that form the tight junction
Describe the structure of adherens junction
Located near the apical surface
Two plaques (patches of protein tissue) on each membrane linked together by transmembrane glycoproteins (cadherin) - belt-like appearance
Cadherin links to catenins (present in membrane) which link to actin filaments
What is the function of adherens junction?
Adherens junction links the microfilaments of adjacent cells preventing cell separation from tension forces like muscle contraction (strength and structure)
What is cadherin and catenin?
Cadherin is the transmembrane glycoprotein that fills the gap in adherens junction and desmosome junction.
Catenin is a type of protein present in the plasma membrane that links the cadherin to the actin filaments of the cells.
Describe the structure of desmosome junctions
Button-like shape
Composed of two plaques (walls of tissue) joined together by transmembrane glycoprotein (cadherin)
Cadherin links to the keratin intermediate filaments of each adjacent cell
What is the function of desmosome junctions?
Link the intermediate filaments (keratin) of adjacent cells providing strength to the junctions between cells. Allows tissue to resist shearing forces.
Where are desmosome junctions found?
Bind muscle cells
Also found in skin epithelia and cardiac cells of the heart preventing tissue being pulled apart.
Describe the structure of gap junctions
The plasma membrane at gap junctions contain connexin protein molecules which group in numbers of 6 to make connexon (otherwise known as a hemichannel). These connexon molecules move about in the cell membrane until a matching connexon is found in the adjacent membrane and form a tunnel - communication portal.
What is the function of gap junctions?
Allow the cells to communicate with one another (pass chemical and electrical signals). Also allow transfer of ions and small molecules between adjacent cells of tissue
What are connexins and connexons?
Connexins are protein molecules present in plasma membranes that make up connexons (hemichannels).
Connexons are circular molecules made up of 6 connexins and form gap junction.
Describe the structure of hemidesmosome
Junction formed between the basal layer and the basement membrane of epithelial tissue.
A plaque (wall of tissue) is connected to the basement membrane via a transmembrane glycoprotein called integrin.
Integrin acts as the linker protein between the keratin of the basal layer cell and laminin in the basement membrane
What is the function of the hemidesmosome?
Link between basal layer epithelial cells and basement membrane preventing movement of the epithelial layer over the basement membrane - fixation of cell
What is integrin and laminin?
Integrin is the transmembrane glycoprotein forming the hemidesmosome junction
Integrin forms the link between keratin and laminin (a protein) present in the basement membrane