| Tight junction | |
|---|---|
 Diagram of tight junction | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | junctio occludens |
| MeSH | D019108 |
| TH | H1.00.01.1.02007 |
| FMA | 67397 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Tight junctions, also known as occluding junctions or zonulae occludentes (singular, zonula occludens), are multiprotein junctional complexes whose canonical function is to prevent leakage of solutes and water and seals between the epithelial cells.[1] They also play a critical role maintaining the structure and permeability of endothelial cells.[1] Tight junctions may also serve as leaky pathways by forming selective channels for small cations, anions, or water. The corresponding junctions that occur in invertebrates are septate junctions.
- ^ a b Bhat, Ajaz A.; Uppada, Srijayaprakash; Achkar, Iman W.; Hashem, Sheema; Yadav, Santosh K.; Shanmugakonar, Muralitharan; Al-Naemi, Hamda A.; Haris, Mohammad; Uddin, Shahab (2019). "Tight Junction Proteins and Signaling Pathways in Cancer and Inflammation: A Functional Crosstalk". Frontiers in Physiology. 9: 1942. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01942. ISSN 1664-042X. PMC 6351700. PMID 30728783.