Structure and Function of Epithelia
Learning Objectives
1. Recognize an epithelium as a tissue that forms a lining on the surface of the body or of a hollow organ.
2. Be able to identify the type of epithelium and its associated structures in the skin, blood vessels (endothelium), small intestine, and airways.
3. Be able to describe the different types of protein-mediated transport we discuss in class.
4. Know how the pattern of expression of different transporters enables directional epithelial transport in the absorption of glucose and the secretion of fluid in the small intestine. For secretion of fluid know that the rate-limiting and regulated step involves chloride transport via the apical channel CFTR. In the disease cholera, this regulation is disrupted so that CFTR is continuously activated, leading to excessive intestinal secretion.
5. Understand how defective function in the protein CFTR leads to the pathologies that occur in the disorder cystic fibrosis. Understand the mechanism of action of treatments for cystic fibrosis that we discuss in class.