Epithelial tissue

Topic: Anatomy & physiology

Tissue made of tightly packed cells with very little intercellular matrix that covers body surfaces, lines body cavities and hollow organs and forms most glands; it rests on connective tissue through a basement membrane. It is named by cell shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar) and by the number of layers (simple or stratified). Its roles include protection, secretion, absorption, filtration and diffusion. The epithelium lining the mouth and intestines divides quickly, so chemotherapy damages it, and most cancers (carcinomas) arise from epithelial cells.

Also known as:

Epithelium

In Turkish:

Epitel doku