Epithelial And Connective Tissues Question And Answers

Epithelial tissue

The epithelial tissue includes epithelium and glands.

Epithelium

Question 1. Define epithelium and list its characteristic features.
Answer.

The epithelium is a sheet of cells, adhered on its basal surface to the basement membrane. It is made up of single or more layers of cells. It lines the body surface, body cavities and interior of tubular organs. It also forms both exocrine and endocrine glands.

Epithelium Characteristic features

• Basal surface of epithelium rests on a basement membrane called basal lamina.
• There is minimal amount of intercellular substance.
• It is avascular and nourished by diffusion from underlying connective tissue capillaries.
• It is derived from all the three germ layers, e.g. epithelium of skin from ectoderm, epithelium of urinary tract from mesoderm and epithelium of GIT from endoderm.
• It has a high regeneration capacity.
• Its cells are held together by tight cell junctions.