Epithelial cells
Epithelial Cells
Epithelial cells (pronunciation: /ˌepɪˈθiːlɪəl ˈsɛlz/) are a type of cell that line the surfaces of your body. They are found on your skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs. They are one of the four main types of tissue along with connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue.
Etymology
The term "epithelial" is derived from the Greek words "epi" meaning "on" or "upon", and "thelē" meaning "nipple". The term was first used in the mid-19th century to describe the tissue that lines the body's surfaces.
Function
Epithelial cells have a variety of functions depending on where they are located in the body. They serve as a protective barrier, control permeability, provide sensation, and produce specialized secretions. For example, the epithelial cells in the intestine absorb nutrients from the food we eat, while those in the lungs allow for gas exchange.
Types
There are three main types of epithelial cells: squamous, cuboidal, and columnar.
- Squamous epithelial cells are flat and scale-like. They are found in areas where rapid diffusion is required, such as the lungs and blood vessels.
- Cuboidal epithelial cells are cube-shaped and are found in areas where secretion and absorption occur, such as the kidneys and glands.
- Columnar epithelial cells are tall and column-like. They are found in areas where absorption and secretion are important, such as the intestines.
Related Terms
- Basement membrane - a thin, fibrous, extracellular matrix of tissue that separates the epithelium, mesothelium, and endothelium from underlying connective tissue.
- Glandular epithelium - a type of epithelium that forms the functioning part of a gland.
- Simple epithelium - a single layer of epithelial cells.
- Stratified epithelium - multiple layers of epithelial cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Epithelial cells
- Wikipedia's article - Epithelial cells
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski