Question

1. Alveoli are air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs with the blood. The tissue that makes up alveoli is simple squamous epithelium, which is different than the respiratory tract which is mostly pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium. Explain why there is a difference in tissue types.

2. Do you think the skin is a tissue or an organ? Explain why.

3. If you had to choose one type of epithelial tissue that is more important than the others, what would you select? Explain.

Answer 1

1. Simple squamous epithelium is very thin and thus facilitates diffusion of oxygen still acting as a barrier between the environment and lungs. The air enter from the environment and enters into the blood in capillaries of the lungs while carbon dioxide passes across the alveoli and thus are removed from the body. While in respiratory tract ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium cilia helps in trapping pathogens and particles and helps in sending out the particles out of the tract and lungs.

2. Skin is considered as an organ as it is made up of different tissues which are made up by different cellls. These tissues together perform the function of the skin. It's composed of epithelial as well as fibrous connective tissue. It is considered as one of the largest organ of the human body.

3. Stratified squamous epithelium is the most important epithelial tissue as it is most commonly found in human body. It's main function is protection and repair the damaged areas of the body.