Hámszövet

Hámszövet, also known as epithelial tissue, is one of the four primary tissue types in the human body, alongside connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. Its primary functions include protection, secretion, absorption, and filtration. Hámszövet forms continuous sheets that cover the surfaces of the body, line body cavities, and form glands.

The cells in hámszövet are tightly packed with very little extracellular space between them. They are anchored to an underlying layer of connective tissue by a basement membrane. Hámszövet cells exhibit polarity, meaning they have distinct apical (free) and basal (attached) surfaces. The apical surface may have specialized structures like cilia or microvilli, while the basal surface is specialized for attachment.

Hámszövet is classified based on the number of cell layers and the shape of the cells. Simple epithelium consists of a single layer of cells, while stratified epithelium is composed of multiple layers. Squamous cells are flat and thin, cuboidal cells are cube-shaped, and columnar cells are taller than they are wide. These classifications combine to describe specific types of hámszövet, such as simple squamous epithelium, stratified cuboidal epithelium, and simple columnar epithelium. Different types of hámszövet are found in specific locations in the body, suited to their particular functions. For instance, simple squamous epithelium lines blood vessels for efficient diffusion, while stratified squamous epithelium protects surfaces like the skin from abrasion.