GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cell polarity is characterised by differences in structure, composition and function between at least two poles of a cell. In epithelial cells, these spatial differences allow for the formation of defined apical and basal membranes.

Detailed explanation-2: -An epithelium has a free surface, the apical surface, exposed to the outside, and an attached surface, the basal surface, resting on the underlying connective tissue.

Detailed explanation-3: -The other end of an epithelial tissue (the basal surface) is attached to a basement membrane that is partly produced by the epithelial cells. Underlying the basement membrane are connective tissues.

Detailed explanation-4: -Polarity is a fundamental property of epithelial cells. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge of the polarity of a stratified epithelium, the epidermis, focusing on similarities and differences with simple epithelial models.