Damaged Skin Cells are Usually Shed in Sheets Because the Cells

Question

Damaged skin cells are usually shed in sheets because the cells are held together by
A)gap junctions.
B)intermediate junctions.
C)tight junctions.
D)desmosomes.
E)junctional complexes.

Accepted Answer

Desmosomes are specialized adhesive junctions that hold cells together in tissues that are subjected to mechanical strain, such as skin. When skin cells become damaged, desmosomes weaken or break down, causing the damaged cells to be shed in sheets. Gap junctions, intermediate junctions, and tight junctions do not hold cells together in the same way as desmosomes, and junctional complexes is not a specific type of junction between cells.