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Multiple Choice
When observing epithelial tissue under a microscope, which of the following characteristics is most commonly seen?
A
Cells are tightly packed with little extracellular matrix
B
Cells have striations similar to muscle tissue
C
Cells are loosely arranged with abundant blood vessels
D
Cells are multinucleated and irregularly shaped
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure and function of epithelial tissue: Epithelial tissue is specialized for covering surfaces, lining cavities, and forming glands. It serves as a protective barrier and is involved in absorption, secretion, and filtration.
Recall the defining characteristics of epithelial tissue: Epithelial cells are tightly packed together with minimal extracellular matrix. This arrangement helps form a continuous layer that acts as a protective barrier.
Compare epithelial tissue to other tissue types: Muscle tissue often has striations due to the arrangement of actin and myosin filaments, which is not a characteristic of epithelial tissue. Connective tissue, on the other hand, is loosely arranged and contains abundant extracellular matrix and blood vessels, which is also not typical of epithelial tissue.
Consider the shape and organization of epithelial cells: Epithelial cells are generally uniform in shape and not multinucleated. Multinucleation and irregular shapes are more characteristic of certain muscle or connective tissues.
Select the correct characteristic based on the observations: The most commonly seen characteristic of epithelial tissue under a microscope is that the cells are tightly packed with little extracellular matrix, which aligns with its functional role as a protective and selective barrier.