Page 128 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FUNCTIONAL CORRELATIONS 4.1 ■ Basement

Membrane/Basal Lamina

The basement membrane/basal lamina performs important functions in
different tissues, among those are binding, supporting, and attaching

epithelial cells to the underlying connective tissue; filtering molecular
movements from the connective tissue to the epithelial cells; and providing
surface area for cell differentiation, regeneration, and tissue repair or wound
healing.

Supplemental micrographic images are available at

www.thePoint.com/Eroschenko13e under Epithelial Tissue.

FIGURE 4.2 | Simple Squamous Epithelium:

Surface View of Peritoneal Mesothelium

To examine the surface of the simple squamous epithelium, a piece of mesentery
was fixed and treated with silver nitrate and then counterstained with
hematoxylin. The cells of the simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium)

appear flat, adhere tightly to each other, and form a sheet with the thickness of a
single cell layer. The irregular cell boundaries (1) of the epithelium stain dark
and are highly visible owing to silver deposition between the cell boundaries;

they form a characteristic mosaic pattern. The blue-gray cell nuclei (2) are
centrally located in the yellow-to-brown-stained cytoplasm (3).

Simple squamous epithelium covers the surfaces that allow passive transport
of gases or fluids and lines the pleural (thoracic), pericardial (heart), and
peritoneal (abdominal) cavities.

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