Tissues of the Body. Epithelium Flashcards
What is the function of Epithelial tissue?
Covers body surface. Lines hollow organs, cavities and ducts. Forms the glands of the body
What are cell junctions?
Cell junctions are connection points between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells. There are 5 types.
What is the 5 types of cells junctions?
- Tight junctions
- Adherens junctions
- Gap junctions
- Demosomes
- Hemidesmosomes
What are the key functions of Epithelial tissue
(S.S.P)
Selective barriers (limit or aid transfer). Secretory (onto a free surface). Protective (especially from abrasion)
What is 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, desmosome, tight, adherens)
What is the basal surface?
The deepest layer of epithelial cells facing the basement membrane - these may contain hemidesmosomes 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 cystoskeleton?
A structure that helps cells maintain their shape and internal organisation, 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 (i.e 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 desmosone 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. Bind muscle cells
Where are desmosome junctions found?
Found in skin epithelium and cardiac cells of the heart to prevent pulling 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