What are the differences between epithelium, endothelium and mesothelium?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Epithelium

Endothelium

Mesothelium

Definition

Is the thin tissue forming the outer layer of the body’s external surface, lines body cavities and hollow organs, and is the major tissue of glands

Is a single cell layer which lines all the blood and lymphatic vessels. It modulates exchange between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues

Is a protective membrane composed of mesothelial cells which coats the abdomen, heart, lungs and testes

Function

Its main functions are secretion, adsorption, protection, diffusion, transportation, sensory reception, and filtration

Is the key regulatory of blood fluidity, platelet aggregation, inflammation, and vascular tone

Provides a slippery non-adhesive and protective surface to internal organs, as well as assist in the transport of fluid and cells across serosal cavities

Characteristics

Epithelial cells are closely packed and form continuous sheets, composed of an apical surface exposed to the body's exterior and a basal surface attached to a basement membrane

Endothelial cells are flat and form a single cell layer to allow for the uninterrupted flow of blood

The mesothelium forms a single cell layer of elongated, flattened, squamous-like mesothelial cells (approximately 25 μm in diameter)

Basis of differentiation	Epithelium	Endothelium	Mesothelium
Definition	Is the thin tissue forming the outer layer of the body’s external surface, lines body cavities and hollow organs, and is the major tissue of glands	Is a single cell layer which lines all the blood and lymphatic vessels. It modulates exchange between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues	Is a protective membrane composed of mesothelial cells which coats the abdomen, heart, lungs and testes
Function	Its main functions are secretion, adsorption, protection, diffusion, transportation, sensory reception, and filtration	Is the key regulatory of blood fluidity, platelet aggregation, inflammation, and vascular tone	Provides a slippery non-adhesive and protective surface to internal organs, as well as assist in the transport of fluid and cells across serosal cavities
Characteristics	Epithelial cells are closely packed and form continuous sheets, composed of an apical surface exposed to the body's exterior and a basal surface attached to a basement membrane	Endothelial cells are flat and form a single cell layer to allow for the uninterrupted flow of blood	The mesothelium forms a single cell layer of elongated, flattened, squamous-like mesothelial cells (approximately 25 μm in diameter)

Basis of differentiation

Epithelium

Endothelium

Mesothelium

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