10. Animal Tissue - part 02 - Compound epithelial tissue and Cell junctions

 


10. Animal Tissue - part 02 - Compound epithelial tissue and Cell junctions



Compound epithelial tissue :


a. Stratified epithelium :

  • Nucleus is present in stratum germinativum.
  • Cells at free surface become flat and lack nucleus called stratum corneum.

Function : Protection

  • Ex. : Epidermis of skin, oesophagus cornea, vagina, rectum.

b. Transitional epithelium:

  • Structure of transitional epithelium is same like stratified epithelium. 
  • The cells can undergo a change in their shape and structure depending on degree of stretch.

Function : Distension of organ

  •  Ex. : Urinary bladder

Cell junctions :


  •  The epithelial cells are connected to each other laterally as well as to the basement membrane by junctional complexes called cell junctions.


Tight junctions (TJs): 


  • These junctions maintain cell polarity, prevent lateral diffusion of proteins and ions.







Hemidesmosomes (HDs) :

  • Allow the cells to strongly adhere to the underlying basement membrane.
  • These maintain tissue homeostasis by signaling.




Desmosomes (Ds) :


  • These provide mechanical strength to epithelial tissue, cardiac muscles and meninges.







Gap Junctions (GJs) :

  • This intercellular connection allows passage of ions and small molecules between cells as well as exchange of chemical messages between cells.






Adherens Junctions (AJs) : 


  • It is involved in various signaling pathways and transcriptional regulations.

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