Question

Layers of epithelial tissue that serve as barriers to pathogens is called

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: Mucus membrane.

Explanation:

• The lining of the epithelial tissue forming the mucus membrane contains some specialised cells which are called the Goblet cells.
• These cells secrete a slippery substance called the Mucus.
• The Mucus is a dense, aqueous and slippery substance that is composed of anti-microbial enzymes like lysosyme, immunoglobulins (antibodies) and glycoproteins like mucins.
• The mucus secreting cells line the internal tracts of the body that come into contact with outside environment, like the respiratory tract, alimentary canal, urino-genital tract.
• If any microbial pathogen gain access into any of these tracts the lysosyme in the mucus causes the microbial cells to undergo lysis, hence killed.
• The immunoglobulins, on recognising a pathogen, activate the immune cells of the body to fight against the intruding pathogen.