When Are Epithelial Cells Replaced?
Epithelial cells provide the outer covering of our body tissues, protecting organs from the outside of our skin to the inside of our intestines. These epithelial cells are constantly being damaged, lost and replaced.
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Cell Death
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Abrasions (scratches), infections and chemical burns can cause epithelial cells to be killed and shed from the surface that they are designed to protect.
Cell Replacement
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When epithelial cells are lost, the remaining healthy epithelial cells in the area begin to divide rapidly. As they divide, they migrate to fill the hole left by the injury.
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Time Frame
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The speed of epithelial cell replacement varies depending on the tissue involved and on the size of the affected area. The process begins immediately after the injury.
Considerations
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In the presence of proper nutrition, epithelial cells will continue to reproduce and replace dead epithelial cells indefinitely.
Fun Fact
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The outer surface of the eyeball, known as the corneal epithelium, can completely replace one layer of epithelial cells in 24 hours.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit abstract cells background image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
