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KEY facts:
There are 4 main tissue types: epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous.
To characterise tissue we analyse its cells: muscle has elongated cells for
contraction, connective has many ecms, nerve cells have elongated cell
processes and generate/ transmit/ receive impulses,
Organs are divided into parenchyma or stroma: parenchyma (cells used to help
organs function), stroma (cells form supportive tissue) stroma is made from
connective tissue (EXCEPT IN BRAIN AND SPINAL CORDS)
Epithelial tissue: strong adhesive cells with little ECM, closely aggregated
polyhedral cells. Principle functions are: covering, secretion (glands), absorption
(intestine), contractility (myoepithelium); can be very specialised such as
sensory cells for taste.
FEATURES of epithelial cells:
Most cells contain nuclei with the same shape: shapes vary from cuboidal,
columnar and squamous
Most epithelia lie on connective tissue, and line most organs in the respiratory,
digestive and urinary systems layer of connective tissue underneath the
epithelium that lines organs is called LAMINA PROPRIA (it supports the epithelia,
provides nutrition and helps to bind it to underlying structures.
IRREGULRITIES in CONNECTIVE TISSUE form papillae (invaginations) which bring
epithelia and lamina propria better in contact, this is common in epithelia such
as the TONGUE where FRICTION is HIGH
Epithelial cells show POLARITY with organelles and cell membrane proteins due
to distribution. WHY? Because basal pole (Facing away from lumen) and apical
pole (facing the lumen) along with the intercellular lateral surfaces, act as
opposing regions of charge due to the differing proportions of material within.
WHAT IS BASAL LAMINAE? It is an ECM between connective tissue and
epithelium.
WHEN UNDER THE MICROSCOPE WE CANNOT VISUALISE THE LIPID RICH
MEMBRANE = HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE CELL WE ARE
LOOKING AT