Epithelium - An Overview and an Insight on Gingival Epithelium: A Literature Review

Abstract

Epithelium is comprised of cells that cover the exterior surfaces of the body and line both the internal closed cavities of the body and those that communicate with the exterior. The cells forming epithelium are in close apposition with one another, they may be arranged in multiple layers. In some locations cells are found aggregated in close apposition with one another but lack free surface. They are called epithelial like or epithelioid tissues. It is a tissue composed of a layer of cells which lines both the outside (skin) and the inside (e. g. intestine) of organisms. The epithelium serves as a barrier to protect the body from pathogens and functions to maintain homeostasis. In this review we will focus on organization and function of the epithelium with its distinctions among epithelia which includes fundamentals of organization, adhesion, polarity, and mechanical coordination and its role in oral mucous membrane. Keywords: Epithelium, cell junctions, gingival epithelium,basal lamina.