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Related Concept Videos

Epithelial Tissues and Their Functions01:23

Epithelial Tissues and Their Functions

Epithelial tissues are large sheets of cells covering all of the surfaces of the body. These surfaces can be internal or external, for example, skin, airways, the digestive tract, the urinary system, and the reproductive system. Hollow organs and body cavities that do not connect to the body's exterior, including blood vessels and serous membranes, are lined by epithelial tissue known as the endothelium.
Epithelial tissues provide the body's first line of protection from physical, chemical, and...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Simple Epithelium01:30

Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Simple Epithelium

Simple epithelium consists of a single layer of cells that lines body cavities and blood vessels. The shape of the cells in the epithelium reflects the function of the tissue. Cells in simple squamous epithelium appear as thin scales with flat, elliptical nuclei that mirror the form of the cell.
Because of the thinness of the cells, simple squamous epithelium is present where the rapid passage of chemical compounds is observed. For example, the endothelium that lines the capillaries and vessels...
Tissue Membranes01:27

Tissue Membranes

A tissue membrane is a thin layer of cells that covers the outside of the body, the organs, internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body, and the lining of the moveable joint cavities. There are two basic types of tissue membranes— connective tissue and epithelial membranes.
Connective Tissue Membranes
The connective tissue membrane is formed solely from connective tissue. These membranes encapsulate organs, such as the kidneys, and line our movable joints. A synovial membrane is...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview01:22

Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview

Epithelial tissues are classified according to the shape of the cells and the number of cell layers formed. Cell shapes can be squamous (flattened and thin), cuboidal (square-like, as wide as it is tall), or columnar (rectangular, taller than it is wide). Additionally, the nucleus shape helps identify the type of epithelial cells. Squamous cells have flattened disc-shaped nuclei, cuboidal cells have spherical nuclei, and columnar cells have elongated nuclei.
Based on the number of cell layers,...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Stratified Epithelium01:29

Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Stratified Epithelium

Stratified epithelium consists of several stacked layers of cells. They provide the durability to withstand constant physical and chemical attacks. Stratified epithelium is named after the shape of the most apical layer of cells. Stratified squamous epithelium is the most common type found in the human body. In this tissue, the apical cells are squamous, whereas the basal layer contains either columnar or cuboidal cells. The basal cells divide to form new daughter cells, which gradually become...
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Characterizing Epithelial Wound Healing In Vivo Using the Cnidarian Model Organism Clytia hemisphaerica
07:47

Characterizing Epithelial Wound Healing In Vivo Using the Cnidarian Model Organism Clytia hemisphaerica

Published on: February 10, 2023

Epithelium, tear down this wall!

Sam C Nalle1, Jerrold R Turner

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|January 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epithelial cells help innate immune cells reach bacterial infections by changing how they connect. This research reveals how epithelial cells guide immune cell migration during bacterial invasion.

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Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor
11:17

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

Reconstituting Cytoarchitecture and Function of Human Epithelial Tissues on an Open-Top Organ-Chip
09:46

Reconstituting Cytoarchitecture and Function of Human Epithelial Tissues on an Open-Top Organ-Chip

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Characterizing Epithelial Wound Healing In Vivo Using the Cnidarian Model Organism Clytia hemisphaerica
07:47

Characterizing Epithelial Wound Healing In Vivo Using the Cnidarian Model Organism Clytia hemisphaerica

Published on: February 10, 2023

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor
11:17

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

Reconstituting Cytoarchitecture and Function of Human Epithelial Tissues on an Open-Top Organ-Chip
09:46

Reconstituting Cytoarchitecture and Function of Human Epithelial Tissues on an Open-Top Organ-Chip

Published on: February 17, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial presence in epithelial tissues triggers swift innate immune cell accumulation.
  • The mechanisms by which epithelial cells facilitate immune cell recruitment remain incompletely understood.

Discussion:

  • Chun and Prince (2009) demonstrate that epithelial cells actively reorganize intercellular junctions.
  • This cellular rearrangement is crucial for enabling immune cell transmigration into infected compartments.

Key Insights:

  • Epithelial cells are not passive barriers but dynamic participants in immune responses.
  • Reorganization of epithelial intercellular junctions is a key mechanism for immune cell trafficking.

Outlook:

  • Further investigation into epithelial junction dynamics could reveal novel therapeutic targets for infectious diseases.
  • Understanding these processes may enhance strategies for controlling bacterial infections in epithelial tissues.