Question

What type of cell junctions are found in epithelial tissue?

Answer 1

Hint: Epithelial tissue is found all over the body. It is the tissue that makes up the skin that protects the entire body. This type of tissue also makes up the inner lining of body cavities and organs. All of these cells are joined together with cell junctions.

Complete answer:
Epithelial cells are joined by a variety of cell junctions depending on the purpose and position of the cell. There are three main epithelial cell junctions, tight junctions, adherens junctions, and gap junctions:
Tight junctions: When two cells are close together to the point that they are fused, it is known as a tight junction. These cells are tightly connected together and form a tight belt that serves as a barrier. Enzymes known as occludin help to fuse the membranes together. This barrier is meant for restricting the flow of molecules from one region to another region.
Adherens junctions: In adhering junctions, the membranes of two adjacent cells aren’t fused together, instead, they adhere to each other in certain places only by actin filaments. An enzyme known as cadherin helps to keep these filaments together. This bond allows the cells to conform and change shape. There is also another type of adhering junctions that are known as desmosomes or spot junctions.
Gap junctions: Proteins known as connexins form a structure known as a connexon that is a circular channel that goes through two adjacent cells. These junctions are known as gap junctions. Gap junctions allow for larger molecules to move through the membrane.

Note:
There are three main types of junctions that are found in epithelial cells, tight junctions, adherens junctions and gap junctions. All of these junctions are located in the cells to help these cells perform certain functions.