HNU
Faculty of Medicine
Histology & Cell Biology
Department
Year 1
Principle of Human Body Structure
HBS-101
Lecture 9
Cell junctions
Objectives
1. List the specializations of the different epithelial cell
surfaces.
2-Describe the structure and correlated functions of the
specializations of the epithelial cell surfaces.
3-Describe the structure and correlated functions of the
different types of the cell junctions.
4-Mention examples of sites of the different types of the cell
junctions.
5-Describe the structure and correlated functions of the
junctional complex.
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Cilia -flagella
Apical surface Stereocilia
Microvilli
Specialization of
epithelial
surfaces Cell junction
Baso-lateral Basal lamina
surface
Basal membrane
infoldings
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Apical cell surface specializations
A- Microvilli:
* Finger like projections of cell membrane which are
very short, stable and more uniform than cilia.
Site & Function:
Increase surface area for absorption (20 - 30 fold than
normal surface) as in small intestine & kidney
tubules.
L/M:
Very small to be seen, but appear as striations or
brush border on apical surface of cell (hundreds or
thousands present on the surface).
E/M:
Each villus has a core of:
1- Actin filaments (microfilament), attached to the
surrounding plasma membrane.
2- Actin - binding proteins inserted into the terminal
web which is formed of actin filaments that running
horizontal in the underlying cytoplasm).
* This maintains stability of microvillus, also
mediate its contraction and elongation.
B- Cilia:
* Highly motile, longer and larger than typical
microvilli.
* Its core contain microtubules not microfilaments .
* May be hundred cilia on a single cell.
Sites: Upper respiratory and female genital tracts.
Functions: They beat rhythmically and help in the
movements of fluids or small bodies along its
surface.
C- Flagella:
The flagellum is similar in structure to the shaft
(axoneme) of the cilia.
Very long, single.
Site: sperm; it forms its tail and facilitates its
movements.
Cell Junctions
Zonula: If the junction extends around the
entire cell perimeter like a ring or belt
Fascia: If the junction is strip-shaped or
band- shaped
Macula: If the junction is spot like
Zonula
Fascia
Macula
Intercellular adhesion & cell junctions
A- Tight (zonula occludens) or occluding junction:
* Position
Apical , seen by EM.
• No intercellular space
• Transmembrane protein:
• The seal between the two adjacent membrane is
due to direct interactions between the proteins
occludins and occluding on each cell.
• which in turn bind to cytoplasmic cytoskeleton
protein (actin).
Functions:
* Form a seal that prevents the flow of materials
between epithelial cells.
* The tight junction in epithelium of GIT keep
digestive enzymes, ions & micro organism from
escaping into the blood stream.
Occluding junction
(Tight Junction)
outer
leaflets
Cell 2 Cell 1
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Cell B Cell A
Cell 1
Cell 2
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B- Adherent (zonula adherens or anchoring
junction:
Site: This junction also encircles the cell, usually
immediately below the zonula occludens.
• Transmembrane glycoproteins It is mediated by
“cadherins” of each cell, which in turn bind to
Cytoplasmic cytoskeleton protein (actin)
• Intercellular space: 20 nm
• (zonulae occludens) & (zonulae adherents)
form a continuous band around the cell.
Functions:
Strengthens and stabilize nearby tight junction.
C- Desmosomes (macula adherens):
* This junctional type resembles a single “spot” and
does not form a belt around the cell.
* The desmosome is a disk-shaped structure at the
surface of both adjacent cells.
* Transmembrane proteins: a members of the
cadherin family called (desmogleins &
desmocollins).
•These cadherin-type proteins bind to cytoplasmic
intermediate filaments (keratin or tonofilaments).
•Intercellular space: 30 nm
Functions:
- The most powerful junction holding the cells
together.
- Play an important role to maintain the integrity of
the epithelium.
D- Hemidesmosomes:
* It is a type of junctions binding the epithelial cells
to underlying B.M.
* It has the structure of only half of a desmosome.
E- Gap junction (Nexuses):
* This type of junction mediate cellular
communication rather than adhesion or occlusions.
*Transmembrane proteins: called connexins, not bind
to any cytoplasmic proteins.
* When two cells attach, connexins in the adjacent
cell membranes move laterally and align to form
connexons (channels) between the two cells.
•Gap junctions are spot like.
•Intercellular space: 2-3 nm
Functions:
* Gap junctions permit the
rapid exchange of small
signal molecules (<1.5
nm), nutrients & ions
between cells without loss
of material into the
intercellular space .
* This type of junction
allowing cells to act in a
coordinated manner rather
than as independent units.
• Sites:
• Cardiac muscles, nerve tissue, bone cells and
smooth muscles.
Medical significance
1- Defect in occludins may affect fetal blood brain
barrier leading to neurologic disorder.
2- Autoimmune reactions against desmoglein lead to
(skin blistering).
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Types of cell junctions
Adherens Gap
Tight junction
junction junction
Seals the intercellular Sites of
space adhesion Forms
channels of
communication
between
adjacent cells
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Reference
Junqueira's Basic Histology
Text and Atlas, 17th edition
by Anthony Mescher
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