The main function of the compound epithelium is

7.1.1 Epithelial Tissue We commonly refer to an epithelial tissue as epithelium (pl.: epithelia). This tissue has a free surface, which faces either a body fluid or the outside environment and thus provides a covering or a lining for some part of the body. The cells are compactly packed with little intercellular matrix. There are two types of epithelial tissues namely simple epithelium and compound epithelium . Simple epithelium is composed of a single layer of cells and functions as a lining for body cavities, ducts, and tubes. The compound epithelium consists of two or more cell layers and has protective function as it does in our skin. On the basis of structural modification of the cells, simple epithelium is further divided into three types. These are (i) Squamous, (ii) Cuboidal, (iii) Columnar (Figure 7.1). Figure 7.1 Simple epithelium: (a) Squamous (b) Cuboidal (c) Columnar (d) Columnar cells bearing cilia The squamous epithelium is made of a single thin layer of flattened cells with irregular boundaries. They are found in the walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs and are involved in functions like forming a diffusion boundary. The cuboidal epithelium is composed of a single layer of cube-like cells. This is commonly found in ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys and its main functions are secretion and absorption. The epithelium of proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of nephron in the kidney has microvilli. The columnar epithelium is composed ...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: • Explain the structure and function of epithelial tissue • Distinguish between tight junctions, anchoring junctions, and gap junctions • Distinguish between simple epithelia and stratified epithelia, as well as between squamous, cuboidal, and columnar epithelia • Describe the structure and function of endocrine and exocrine glands and their respective secretions Most epithelial tissues are essentially large sheets of cells covering all the surfaces of the body exposed to the outside world and lining the outside of organs. Epithelium also forms much of the glandular tissue of the body. Skin is not the only area of the body exposed to the outside. Other areas include the airways, the digestive tract, as well as the urinary and reproductive systems, all of which are lined by an epithelium. Hollow organs and body cavities that do not connect to the exterior of the body, which includes, blood vessels and serous membranes, are lined by endothelium (plural = endothelia), which is a type of epithelium. Epithelial cells derive from all three major embryonic layers. The epithelia lining the skin, parts of the mouth and nose, and the anus develop from the ectoderm. Cells lining the airways and most of the digestive system originate in the endoderm. The epithelium that lines vessels in the lymphatic and cardiovascular system derives from the mesoderm and is called an endothelium. All epithelia share some important s...

A stratified squamous epithelium, which is composed of multiple layers of flattened cells. Compound epithelia are found in locations where there is a need for protection from A thin layer of flat cells with irregular boundaries is referred to as a mucosa. Blood vessels are lined with cells, for example. Incubated cells – It is a type of cell that has a monolayer structure similar to a cube. A cell in the ducts of glands. Columnar epithelial cells are slender, tall cells with layers that are monolayers. stratified epithelium, are also referred to as the compound epithelial cell. This epithelial tissue is different from the more common type because it is multilayered. As a result, there is a body lining to protect it from mechanical and chemical forces. Epithelial tissue in compound epithelial cells is formed by the juxtaposition of different layers of epithelial cells, which are newly formed and mature. In glands, this tissue covers all body surfaces and is the most important. From beneath, the superficial layer begins to fade. What Is The Compound Epithelial? Photo by – https://blogspot.com A compound epithelium is a type of epithelium that is composed of more than one layer of cells. The cells in a compound epithelium are usually arranged in rows or columns, and the epithelium may be either flat or curved. Because the compound epithelium is composed of multiple layers (multi-layered) of cells, it has a limited role in secretion and absorption. These devices are primarily ...