Tissue, Organs and Systems Flashcards
What are cells
Cells are the basic unit of life
What are tissues
Groups of cells working together form a tissue
What is an organ
Group of tissues working together form an organ
What holds cells together
- Cell-cell adhesion molecules
- Extracellular matrix proteins (fibres)
- Internal-external scaffolding
- Close proximity (pressure effects)
What do epithelial sheets line
Epithelial cell sheets line all the cavities and free surfaces of the body
What do epithelial tissues rest on
Epithelia almost always rest on a supporting bed of connective tissue- (basement membrane)
What does the connective tissue do
The supporting bed attaches the epithelial layer to other tissues, such as the muscle
- In this way, tissues join together in various combinations to form larger functional units called organs.
What do specialised junctions between epithelial cells do
The specialised junctions between epithelial cells help to make/form tissue barriers
- inhibit the movement of water, solutes (RBC’s), and cells from one body compartment to another
What does more than 1 tissue make
An organ
What are the two MAIN surfaces in an Epithelial Surface
Top Surface: APICAL Surface
Bottom Surface: BASAL Surface
What is the lateral Surface in Epithelial Cells?
The lateral membrane of the epithelial cell orients perpendicularly to the apical and basal membranes and frequently is referred to as cell-cell contacts, the cell boundary, or intercellular junction
What are Epithelial adherence systems
How epithelial cells sick to eachother
Epithelial adherence systems - in the lateral surface (5)
In the lateral surface
* Tight junctions
* Adherens junctions
* Desmosome (adhesion plaque)
* Gap Junctions
* Cell adhesion molecules
Epithelial cell adherence systems - in the Basal Surface (5)
What do these molecules hold the epithelial cell to
In the basal surface
* Hemi-desmosome
* Focal adhesions
* Integrins
* Proteoglycans
* Cell adhesion molecules
(These molecules hold epithelial cell to the basement membrane)
Where do you find Tight injunctions
Always at the very top of the cell nearest to lumen/apical surface in the lateral border
How long is the fusion point in Tight Injunctions
Relative long cell-to-cell fusion point
What is the Role of a Tight junction
Role to prevent movement of larger molecules through the outer layer/lumen into the deeper tissue layers of the organ
What is paracellular transport?
Paracellular transport refers to the transfer of substances across an epithelium by passing through the intercellular space between the cells.
How are tight junctions involved in paracellular Transport
In the gut,
Tight injunctions can transiently open
(Tight injections opening and closing in a clapping motion) to allow small molecules (sugars, amino acids and water) to cross to the underlying tissues
– This is known as paracellular transport
Where are Adhesion Junctions found in a cell
Almost always found 1/3rd distance from Top Surface, Apical Surface)
On the lateral Surface
What is the structure of an Adhesion Junction
- Found in pairs
- Formed from intracellular actin filaments
- Linked to E-cadherin proteins that cross the intercellular space
- Found throughout this region as ‘a belt of adhesion’
Sometimes called an ‘adhesion belt’
Which cells are adhesion junctions found
Found only in epithelial and endothelial cells
What is the function of Adhesion Junctions?
Functions as tissue stabilising factor and additional transport barrier
Which Cell-Cell Adhesion is the strongest
Desmosomes
Where is the desmosome located in the cell
Halfway between the top and bottom of the cell
Where in the body are desmosomes found
Found in tissues that experience intense mechanical stress
e.g.
cardiac muscle, bladder tissue, gastrointestinal mucosa, epithelia (all types),
pregnant uterus, etc.
What is the structure of a desmosome?
Cytokeratin fibres intracellularly, (intermediate Filaments (keratin))
E-cadherins intercellularly (transmembrane proteins)
Anchoring proteins (Desmoglein)
What is the role of Desomosomes
Role to provide mechanical strength and prevent tissue destruction
What is the only cell found in the upper epidermal (skin) cells
Desomosomes
What is the location of Gap Junctions
Close to base of epithelial cells