cell shape

Examples

 squamous cells
 cuboidal cells
 columnar cells
 atypical cells
 fusiform cells
 polygonal cells

Pathology

 cell shape anomalies

See also : cell size

 small cells
 medium-size cells
 large cells

Adherens junctions

The adherens junction functions to connect epithelial cells and maintain their polarized architecture. The geometry of the adherens junction, and consequently the shape of a cell, appears to reach an energetically favorable state.

Cadherins within the adherens junction are necessary for cells to achieve this state. Interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and the adherens junction are required for certain cell shape changes.

References

 Lecuit T, Lenne PF. Cell surface mechanics and the control of cell shape, tissue patterns and morphogenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Aug;8(8):633-44. PMID: 17643125

 Carthew RW. Adhesion proteins and the control of cell shape. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2005 Aug;15(4):358-63. PMID: 15963712