CELL MODIFICATIONS THAT LEAD TO

ADAPTATION
Kinds of Cell Modifications
APICAL MODIFICATIONS (top)
BASAL MODIFICATIONS (bottom)
LATERAL MODIFICATIONS (sides)
APICAL MODIFICATIONS

Hemidesmosome
protein filaments interlock with filaments of
the adjacent cell which forms a dense
intermediate line between the cells
found beneath the zonula adherens
cytoplasmic
face
is
connected
to
microfilaments extending into the cytoplasm
LATERAL MODIFICATIONS

Tight Junctions (Zonula Occludens)

Microvilli
a band near the apical surface forms a seal,
also called brush/striated border
appearing to be fused
finger-like cytoplasmic extensions of the
there is 15-20 nm space between epithelium
apical surface which increase surface area for
cells
absorption

tight junction occludes/separates the

numerous, often regularly arranged, and
compartments
found in absorptive epithelia

Adhering
Junctions (Zonula Adherens)
Cilia
the actin filaments which make up zonula
motile, function in movement
adherens maintain integrity of the cell to
beats in a coordinated rhythmical wave-like
better bind
manner, promoting movement of materials

found just beneath the tight junction

over the surface
cytoplasmic
face
is
linked
to
appear as short hair-like structures or
the actin cytoskeleton
projections

Gap
Junctions
each cilium is connected to a basal body and
connexons of one membrane aligns with
extends from the free surface
connexon of adjacent membrane so that
core is composed of microtubules arranged
hydrophilic material can be transported
in a specific manner

important in cell communication

can be found in the lining of the trachea
adjacent cells are 2-3 nm apart
(windpipe) or in the Fallopian tube

Desmosome (Macula Adherens)

Stereocilia
protein filaments interlock with filaments of
long microvilli that function in increasing
the adjacent cell which forms a dense
absorption
intermediate line between the cells
non-motile
help to resist shearing forces and are found
found in sensory cells in ear and male
in simple and stratified squamous epithelium
reproductive tract
does not have the true characteristic of the
SPECIALIZED MODIFICATIONS
true cilia or flagella
Nerve cells, or neurons are very specialized
Flagella
cells of the nervous system. Since an electrical
are also concerned with movement
signal needs to travel relatively long distances
same axial structure with cilia but much
to parts of the body, nerve cells have
longer
specialized structures called dendrites, which
present in the tail of the spermatozoa
receive an electrical signal from another
BASAL MODIFICATIONS
neuron, and axons, which transmit an
electrical signal to another neuron.
Basal Infoldings

Muscle cells are made up primarily of a pair of

often found in epithelium that are known to
special proteins called actin and myosin which
transport fluid (kidney)
allows the muscle to contract.
will often see mitochondria in the basal
Red blood cells are anucleate, and thus are
infoldings; suggests that active transport is
produced from bone marrow, but contain large
occurring
amounts of hemoglobin to transport oxygen
very important in epithelial polarization and
throughout the body.
stability
Sperm cells are haploid and contain a
support the epithelium and also functions as
flagellum in order to swim through the vagina.
a passive molecular sieve or ultrafilter
Plant cells have large amounts of the organelle
if basal lamina is destroyed (trauma,
chloroplast, which allows the cell to undergo
infections, burns), the epithelium will not be
photosynthesis. Plant cells are also covered by
repaired but substituted with a scar
a cell wall.
(connective tissue)