Anatomy and Physiology Elana Schlansky

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Characteristics of epithelial tissue:

- Cellularity: composed almost entirely of close cells with tiny amount of extracellular material in the spaces between.

-Specialized contacts: fit close together to form sheets, adjacent cells are bound together at many points by lateral contacts.

-Polarity: have apical surface, an upper free surface exposed to body exterior or internal organ, and basal surface. most have microvilli, fingerlike extensions of plasma membrane. Lying adjacent is basal lamina, acts as selective filter that determines which molecules will be allowed to enter.

-Supported by connective tissue: two reticular lamina form the basement membrane, which reinforces the epithelial sheet, helping to resist stretching and tearing forces.

-Avascular but innervated: supplies by nerve fibers but contains no blood vessels.

-Regeneration: as long as they receive nutrition, they replace lost cell rapidly by division.

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Anatomy and Physiology Elana Schlansky

By ElanaSchlansky

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