Characteristics of Epithelial Tissue

- Covers body surfaces

- Lines hollow organs/cavities/ducts

- Forms glands

- Protects/supports/binds organs

- Stores energy as fat (adipose)

- Provides some immunity

1. Tight

2. Adherens

3. Desmosomes

4. Hemidesmosomes

5. Gap

- Web-like strands of transmembrane proteins

- Fuse cells

- Seals of passageways b/w adjacent cells

- Dense layer of proteins called plaque

- Plaque is attached to memb proteins & microfilaments of cytoskeleton

- Resists seperation

- Cadherins insert into plaque and link cells

- Adhesion belts in epithelial cells

- Contain plaque and cadherins that extend into IC space and link cells

- Plaque attached to intermediate filaments that contain keratin

- Prevents epidermal cells from separating under tension

- Prevent cardiac muscles from pulling apart during contractions

Hemidesmosomes

- Half a desmosome

- Anchors cells to basement memb

- Integrins attach keratin inside plasma memb

- Integrins attach laminin outside plasma memb

- Connects neighboring cells via tiny, fluid-filled tunnels called connexons

- Connexins make connexons

- Plasma memb of gap junctions are separated by narrow IC gap

- Allows substances to pass/communication b/w cells

Elastic Connective Tissue

(aorta)