Epithelium Essay

1476 Words6 Pages
EPITHELIUM By: Khalid Al-Kraida Anatomy Department College of Medicine KSU INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT OF EPITHELIUM FEATURES OF EPITHELIUM: Epithelium lines the surfaces of the body and is mainly located on the borders between the external and internal environments. Epithelium also lines all the internal body spaces that have a connection with the external environment at some stage. Epithelium is a tissue composed of cells; tightly-bound to each other, with little intercellular substance. There are specializations of the cell membranes of epithelial cells that play roles in maintaining the integrity of the tissue. Epithelium is an avascular tissue and has no integral (direct) blood supply. FUNCTIONS OF EPITHELIUM: Owing to the strategic location of epithelium at the border between the internal and external environments, the functions of epithelium are many and varied, but can be conveniently divided into two major categories: protective or metabolic. Protective functions of epithelium include protection against: * mechanical damage * loss of fluids (desiccation) - waterproofing * invasion of foreign bodies ( e.g. skin) Metabolic functions of epithelium include: * Exchange of metabolites, typically described as ion-transport. All the substances entering or leaving the body must pass through epithelium and are under its control. The ion-transporting epithelium may become highly specialized for absorption or excretion. * The glandular secretions of the body by glands (exocrine and endocrine) are mainly a function of specialized epithelium. Polarity: Epithelial cells are polarized cells and we can distinguish different areas of the cells (apical, basal, and lateral) with specific structural modifications (unlike other tissues, where structural polarity is not found). Specific structures found on the apical surface

More about Epithelium Essay

Open Document