The respiratory epithelium is the lining of the airway, extending from the nasal cavity through the branching respiratory tree to the terminal air sacs of the lungs. Together, the respiratory epithelium serves as a leak-proof barrier that...
Epithelial cells are specialized cells which line many different kinds of tissue. Columnar epithelial cells are named because they are somewhat rectangular in shape and resemble a column in their orientation. Columnar epithelial cells are often...
A urinalysis is a noninvasive urine screening test in which a patient urinates into a small receptacle. A lab technician then examines the urine on several levels. Visual analysis of urine can yield observations about color and clarity, while...
Simple squamous epithelium consists of a single layer of thin cells that are often flattened. These cells have a variety of functions within the body and are primarily used to line certain tissues. These cells are used to make very thin linings...
Vitamin A plays an essential role in the maintenance of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells carry out a number of critical functions in the body, and a lack of vitamin A can cause a variety of conditions affecting the skin, eye, lungs, urinary...
The kidneys are essential organs responsible for blood filtration. Each kidney consists of an outer cortex rich in blood vessels and an inner medulla. Both the cortex and the medulla contain millions of nephrons, the functional units of the kidney...
The protein-rich foods you eat may also contain dietary fats. To extract the nutrients from each of these food types, your body separates the fat from the protein. You accomplish this separation process through digestion, decreasing the size of...
Replication of the influenza virus requires multiple steps and processes. The first part is the the mechanism by which the virus is able to infect cells. Influenza viruses typically infect epithelial cells (which are thin flat cells) that line the...
Over time, toxic by-products of cell metabolism known as free radicals, have unpaired electrons in their outer orbits, forcing them to pull electrons from other cells, damaging them. Antioxidants are substances that inhibit the accumulation of...
Catalase is a protein catalyst or enzyme that rapidly breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Various metabolic processes in your cells release hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct. Just like the cells of most other organisms, your cells...
There are five types of membranes found within the body. Membranes are flat sheets of tissue that cover or line parts of the body and are typically composed of epithelial cells and connective tissue. Epithelial cells cover the inner and outer...
Digestion is the process in which your body decreases the size of the food particles you eat until they are small enough to be absorbed. Absorption occurs when these small molecules of food particles pass from your digestive system, or gut, into...
Carcinomas are malignant cancers that develop from epithelial cells, specialized cells that line the tissues of the body. Epithelial cells provide protection to underlying tissue and secrete factors that aid in organ functioning. Carcinomas...
The human body is made up of millions of cells. Although the basic structure of each cell is similar, the overall structure varies depending on the function of that cell. There are several different types of cells in the body that are classified...
The human body is made up of trillions of cells that work together to allow for tissue development and maintenance, organ functioning, locomation, and a range of other functions. Almost all cells contain thousands of genes, and the combined...
Blood vessels are hollow tubes that are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body and maintaining our pulse and blood pressure. There are three basic types of blood vessels--veins, arteries and capillaries. Each has unique...
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in women other than skin cancer. The breast is composed of various different tissue components, resulting in a variety of potential histopathological types...
The lungs contain a series of airways, called bronchi and bronchioles, which carry air from the mouth down into the lungs. The bronchi and bronchioles contain a number of specialized cell types, including airway-lining cells called epithelial...
Squamous cells are a type of epithelial cell found throughout the body and can be identified by a flattened, pancake-like shape. Patients may commonly develop squamous cell carcinoma within the skin or in lung tissue, since both organs present a...
Between 80 and 90 percent of ovarian cancers originate in epithelial cells that cover the female reproductive glands, or ovaries. The National Cancer Institute reported the estimated cases of ovarian cancer in 2010 in the United States is 21,880...
Green tea is made by steaming the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. A increasingly popular beverage in the U.S., green tea is also used as an alternative remedy for variety of ailments such as cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases, and as a...
A new hip piercing can be an exciting fashion statement, but there are workout limitations during the initial healing process of your piercing. By following these guidelines your piercing will heal safely, but you still need to take precautions...
Lipids make up between 3 and 5 percent of cow's milk, with the remainder water, protein, lactose, vitamins and minerals. Milk fat is a rich source of energy, nourishing not only calves but also humans. The nature of the lipids in cow's milk...
Anusol Cream is a topical corticosteroid, anti-inflammatory and anti-puritic water washable cream. Anusol cream goes under the generic name of hydrocortisone as well as the brand name ProctoCare-HC Cream. It is an effective treatment for rectal...
The human hair is between 15 and 120 mcg in diameter. There are approximately 300,000 hairs on your scalp that grow about six inches each year. Each hair follicle goes through a growing phase, a transition phase and a resting phase, after which...
Bifidus refers to a group of probiotic strains. Probiotics are digestive health-promoting live microorganisms that inhabit your gastrointestinal tract. They are often called "friendly bacteria," because they help balance your intestinal floral and...
Aloette organic skin care products caters to today's women of all ages. This renowned brand possesses an experience of over three decades in the beauty business.
Capillaries are thin and fragile blood vessels that may rupture during trauma. The Franklin Institute states that your capillaries are only one epithelial cell thick, and that these blood vessels are so small that only one red blood cell can pass...
Villi are small cellular structures in the small intestine that vaguely resemble hairs. The large intestine has similar hair-like projections, but according to cytochemistry.net they are no longer referred to as villi. However, they have no formal...
A pap smear is a gynecological test designed to detect premalignant and malignant processes in the cervix and uterus. Get tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating cervical and uterine cancer in this medical video.
