Question

Skin is the main barrier between internal organs and the outside environment. The outer layer of skin is composed mostly of epithelial cells. Which is a characteristic of epithelial cells that makes them ideal for providing this type of protection? The cells are packed tightly together. The cells are surrounded by a lot of extracellular matrix. The cells are separated by synapses. The cells are organized into a mesh structure.

Answer 1

Epithelial cells are packed tightly together. The cells form a continuous sheet forming a barrier between internal organs and the outside environment. It protects the tissues that lie beneath from physical trauma, invasion of pathogens, toxins, radiation, desiccation etc.