Final answer:
The characteristic that is NOT a feature of epithelial tissue is that the cells do not have apical or basal surfaces, which is inaccurate as epithelial cells are polar and do have these distinct surfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic that is NOT a feature of epithelial tissue is: b. Cells do not have an apical surface or a basal surface. In fact, epithelial cells are known to exhibit polarity with distinct apical and basal surfaces. These surfaces differ structurally and functionally. The apical surface faces the outer surface or lumen, and the basal surface interfaces with underlying tissues.
- Epithelial tissues are highly cellular, with cells tightly packed together with little or no extracellular matrix except for the basal lamina.
- These tissues are avascular, meaning they lack blood vessels, and therefore nutrients must come through diffusion or absorption.
- Desmosomes and tight junctions are common in epithelial tissues, contributing to their ability to form barriers and their cohesive structure.
Thus, statement b. is incorrect, while the other characteristics listed such as avascularity and the presence of cell junctions like desmosomes and tight junctions are typical of epithelial tissues.