Final answer:
The epithelial tissue is responsible for protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration, diffusion, and sensory reception. It includes tightly packed cells forming barriers that regulate selective transfer of materials across body surfaces and cavities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of tissue that functions in protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration, diffusion, and sensory reception is called epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue primarily serves as a protective covering or lining for parts of the body. It takes on various forms to perform its diversified roles, including the outer layers of skin, lining of the gastrointestinal tract, ducts of glands, and the passing ways of the respiratory and urinary tracts.
Epithelial cells are tightly packed with minimal extracellular matrix, bound by tight junctions that prevent the passage of substances between cells, and may also feature gap junctions for molecule exchange, as well as anchoring junctions. These cells form barriers that regulate selective transfer of materials and serve as the body's first line of defense against damage. Types of epithelial tissues include squamous, cuboidal, and columnar, which can be arranged in single layers known as simple epithelia or multiple layers called stratified epithelia.