Epithelial cells are a type of cell that covers the inside and outside of the surfaces of your body. They are tightly packed together and serve as a barrier between the interior and the exterior of your body. Epithelial tissue is made up of epithelial cells, which can be different shapes and can be arranged in a single layer or multiple layers depending on where they are in your body and what kind of functions they have. There are many different kinds of epithelial tissue throughout your body, including the outer layer of your skin, the lining of your intestines, the lining of your respiratory tract, the lining of your abdominal cavity, and your sweat glands.
Epithelial cells are found in various parts of the body, including the urinary tract. An epithelial cells in urine test looks at a sample of your urine under a microscope to count the number of epithelial cells in your urine. Its normal to have a small number of certain types of epithelial cells in urine. A large number may indicate a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or other serious medical condition.
There are three main types of epithelial cells: squamous, cuboidal, and columnar. The arrangement of epithelial cells can be simple, stratified, pseudostratified, or transitional. The function of epithelial cells changes based on their location in the body. For example, epithelial cells in the skin provide protection, whereas they have secretory and absorptive properties in the gut.
In summary, epithelial cells are a type of cell that covers the inside and outside of the surfaces of your body. They are tightly packed together and serve as a barrier between the interior and the exterior of your body. Epithelial cells are found in various parts of the body, and their function changes based on their location.