Types and Functions of Epithelial Tissue You Need to Know

Epithelial tissue is one of the main tissues that is widely distributed throughout the body and covers the outside and inside of the body. This tissue consists of several types and each type has a different function, depending on the tissue it is in.

Epithelial tissue lines the outer skin and hollow organs, such as the lining of the intestines, walls of blood vessels, ducts respiratory tract, abdominal cavity, and sweat glands. Anatomically, epithelial tissue has three main shapes, namely flat (squamous), cylindrical (columnar), and cube (cuboid).

Types of Epithelial Tissue

There is epithelial tissue that only consists of one layer, but there are also layers or pseudostratification. The following are some types of epithelial tissue in the body:

Squamous epithelial tissue

Squamous epithelial tissue is flat and looks like a sheet. This tissue lines the blood vessels and body cavities.

Meanwhile, stratified squamous epithelial tissue has a protective role and can be found in the outer layer of the skin or the epidermis and cornea of ​​the eye.

Tissue cuboidal epithelium

This cuboidal epithelial tissue has the same width, height and depth. Simple cuboidal epithelial tissue is usually found in glandular tissue and renal tubules, whereas stratified cuboidal tissue is found in the excretory ducts of the salivary and sweat glands.

Columnar epithelial tissue

Columnar epithelial tissue looks like a column that is taller than it is wide.

Meanwhile, stratified columnar epithelial tissue functions as a protector and mucus producer. This type of tissue can be seen in the conjunctiva that lines the ball and the inner eyelid.

In addition, there is pseudostratified columnar epithelial tissue. This type of epithelium consists of cells that are tightly packed together, have different sizes, and appear multi-layered even though there is actually only one layer of cells. mucus in body organs. This tissue can be found in the upper respiratory tract.

Various Functions of Epithelial Tissue

Epithelial tissue has many important functions in the body , such as the function of protection, absorption, and excretion of substances. Since this tissue can be found throughout the body, its function and purpose varies depending on the location.

The following are some of the functions of epithelial tissue in the body:

1. Protective function

This function means protecting another tissue or organ function itself. For example, epithelial tissue in the skin serves to protect deeper underlying tissues, such as blood vessels and muscles. Meanwhile, the epithelial tissue that lines the intestines protects the body from bad bacteria in the gut.

2. Secretion function

Secretion itself means to produce a substance that will be reused by the body to carry out certain functions. An example is the epithelial tissue in the body's glands that function to secrete enzymes or hormones.

3. Excretory function

The excretory function of epithelial tissue plays a role in removing waste or waste products of metabolism from the body. This type of epithelial tissue is usually found in the kidneys and sweat glands.

4. Absorption function

The epithelial tissue in certain organs also plays a role in the process of absorption of important substances for the body. For example, the epithelial tissue in the intestines that can absorb nutrients from the food you eat.

5. Filtration function

Filtration means to filter. This function is generally owned by epithelial tissue in the respiratory tract which is able to filter dirt and particles from the inhaled air and clean it. Meanwhile, the epithelial tissue in the kidney also has the same function, namely filtering blood.

6. Diffusion function

In biological terms, the term diffusion means the movement of liquids or particles from one place to another. Well, the function of diffusion in epithelial tissue is to support the process of absorption, filtering, and excretion by flowing fluids, hormones, or particles in the body.

7. Sensory reception function

Sensory nerve endings embedded in epithelial tissue enable the body to receive sensory stimuli from the outside. For example, the epithelial tissue in the ear is important for the function of hearing and balance, while the epithelium in the tongue can assess the taste of food.

Well, those are the anatomical parts of epithelial tissue and their functions. Because epithelial tissue is a very important tissue for the body, you should always keep it in good working order. If not properly cared for, the body's epithelial tissue can experience various disorders or certain diseases, such as colitis, asthma, or skin diseases, such as warts. In addition, epithelial tissue can also grow too quickly beyond the normal limits of its growth. This condition can trigger cancer, such as cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer.

The cause of cancer is not known for certain, but you can prevent it by adopting a healthy lifestyle. and a balanced nutritious diet.

If you have complaints related to epithelial tissue, such as lumps on the skin or lumps in the body that are palpable from the outside, don't hesitate to consult a doctor so that the cause of the lump can be identified and treated appropriately .

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