Stratified Squamous with Keratin
Stratified Squamous with Keratin

Stratified Squamous with Keratin

In this image note the layers of keratin on the apical surface of the epithelium, superficial to the squamous cells. What might be the function of keratin, and in what kinds of tissues would you expect to find stratified squamous keratinizing epithelia? In what stratified squamous epithelia would you not expect to find keratin, and why?
Answer: Keratin protects against desiccation and abrasion. You would expect to find it in the skin, but not in the epithelia that comprise the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, anal cavity, and vagina; glandular secretions keep these surfaces moist.