Which of the following is not associated with epithelium?

Options

A. Cells are compactly packed with little intercellular space
B. It is highly vascularized
C. It forms covering or lining of external and internal surfaces
D. It helps in protection, secretion, absorption, respiration, etc.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Epithelium**:
- Epithelium is a type of tissue that covers the surfaces of organs and lines cavities in the body. It consists of closely packed cells with minimal intracellular space.

2. **Characteristics of Epithelium**:
- **Compact Arrangement**: The cells in epithelial tissue are tightly packed together, which means there is little to no space between them.
- **Avascular Nature**: Epithelial tissue is avascular, meaning it does not have its own blood supply. Nutrients are supplied through diffusion from underlying tissues.
- **Basement Membrane**: Beneath the epithelial layer, there is a non-cellular structure known as the basement membrane, which provides support and anchorage to the epithelium.

3. **Functions of Epithelium**:
- **Covering and Lining**: Epithelial tissue covers external surfaces of the body and lines internal cavities and organs.
- **Protection**: It serves as a barrier to protect underlying tissues from mechanical injury, pathogens, and dehydration.
- **Secretion and Absorption**: Certain epithelial cells, like goblet cells, are involved in secretion (e.g., mucus), while others may have specialized structures (like villi) that aid in absorption.

4. **Analyzing the Statements**:
- The question asks which statement is **not** associated with epithelium.
- The statements provided include:
- Cells are compactly packed with little intracellular space (True)
- It is highly vascular (False - it is avascular)
- It forms covering lining of external and internal surfaces (True)
- It helps in protection, secretion, and absorption (True)

5. **Identifying the False Statement**:
- Among the statements, "It is highly vascular" is incorrect because epithelial tissue is avascular. Therefore, this is the statement that is not associated with epithelium.

### Conclusion:
The statement that is **not associated with epithelium** is: **"It is highly vascular."**

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