HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What do desmosomes connect?

1. Muscle cells to the extracellular matrix

2. Epithelial cells and their cytoskeleton

3. Nerve cells to muscle cells

4. Fat cells to blood vessels

The correct answer is: Epithelial cells and their cytoskeleton

Desmosomes are specialized structures that function as cell adhesion sites, anchoring adjacent cells together in a tissue. They are particularly important in tissues that experience significant mechanical stress, such as epithelial and cardiac tissues. The primary role of desmosomes is to connect the cytoskeleton of one cell to that of another, providing strength and stability to the tissue. In the context of epithelial cells, desmosomes connect them to one another, allowing them to maintain structural integrity. The cadherin proteins in desmosomes link to intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton within each cell, creating a strong intercellular connection that resists shearing forces. The other choices do not accurately describe the role of desmosomes. Muscle cells to the extracellular matrix is a function typically associated with adherens junctions or focal adhesions. Nerve cells to muscle cells involves neuromuscular junctions, while fat cells and blood vessels pertain to different types of cell communication and connections, not specifically through desmosomes.