Attachment.Googleusercontent.Com 6 REVIEW SHEET Classification Of Tissues Lab Tmee Tissue Structure And Function-General Review 3 Use The Key Choices To Identify The Tissue Types Described Below:
Epithelium: Lines body cavities and covers the body’s surfaces.
Muscle: Pumps blood, flushes urine out of the body, allows one to swing a bat.
Forms endocrine and exocrine glands.
Anchors, packages, and supports body organs.
Classified based on the shape and arrangement of the cells.
Derived from mesenchyme.
Major function is to contract.
Transmits electrical signals.
Consists of cells within an extracellular matrix.
Most widespread tissue in the body.
Forms nerves and the brain.
Epithelial Tissue: Describe five general characteristics of epithelial tissue.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Tissue Type Identification and Explanation – Classification of Tissues Review Sheet
Key Tissue Type Matches:
- Epithelium: Lines body cavities and covers the body’s surfaces. ✅
- Muscle: Pumps blood, flushes urine out of the body, allows one to swing a bat. ✅
- Epithelium: Forms endocrine and exocrine glands. ✅
- Connective: Anchors, packages, and supports body organs. ✅
- Epithelium: Classified based on the shape and arrangement of the cells. ✅
- Connective: Derived from mesenchyme. ✅
- Muscle: Major function is to contract. ✅
- Nervous: Transmits electrical signals. ✅
- Connective: Consists of cells within an extracellular matrix. ✅
- Connective: Most widespread tissue in the body. ✅
- Nervous: Forms nerves and the brain. ✅
Five General Characteristics of Epithelial Tissue:
- Cellularity: Epithelial tissue is composed almost entirely of tightly packed cells with minimal extracellular matrix.
- Polarity: Each epithelial cell has an apical (top) surface exposed to the body exterior or cavity, and a basal (bottom) surface attached to a basement membrane.
- Attachment: The basal surface of epithelial tissue is anchored to a basement membrane made of connective tissue, ensuring structural integrity.
- Avascularity: Epithelial tissues lack their own blood supply and instead rely on diffusion from underlying connective tissues.
- Regeneration: Epithelial tissues have a high capacity for regeneration, rapidly replacing damaged or dead cells through mitosis.
Explanation:
Epithelial tissue is one of the four major tissue types in the body, and it performs critical functions including protection, absorption, secretion, and filtration. One of its hallmark features is cellularity—it is made up almost entirely of cells with very little space between them. These cells are held together tightly by junctions like desmosomes and tight junctions, which help maintain the integrity of barriers such as skin or the lining of organs.
Another key trait is polarity. Epithelial cells are organized so that their apical surface is exposed to either the external environment or the lumen of an organ, while their basal surface is connected to a supporting basement membrane. This organization allows for directional processes, such as absorption in the intestines or secretion in glands.
Attachment to the basement membrane is essential for maintaining the structure and function of the epithelium. This membrane is made of protein fibers that connect epithelial tissue to the underlying connective tissue, providing support and helping resist tearing forces.
Despite its protective role, epithelial tissue is avascular, meaning it does not contain blood vessels. Instead, it relies on the diffusion of nutrients and waste products to and from capillaries in the underlying connective tissue. This limitation is compensated by the tissue’s high regenerative capacity. Due to frequent exposure to friction and environmental damage, epithelial tissues are capable of rapid mitosis, replacing damaged or dead cells efficiently.
These five characteristics make epithelial tissue uniquely suited to its roles throughout the body—from forming skin and lining internal cavities to constructing glandular tissues for secretion.
