What is the Difference Between Pus Cells and Epithelial Cells

The key difference between pus cells and epithelial cells is that pus cells are dead polymorphonuclear leukocyte cells (macrophages and neutrophils) found in the pus, while epithelial cells are a type of live cells found on the surfaces of skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs.

Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body normally consists of trillions of cells. These cells provide structure to the human body, take in nutrients from food, convert these nutrients into energy, and carry out other specialized functions. Pus cells and epithelial cells are two types of cells that can be found in the human body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Pus Cells  
3. What are Epithelial Cells
4. Similarities – Pus Cells and Epithelial Cells
5. Pus Cells vs Epithelial Cells in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pus Cells vs Epithelial Cells

What are Pus Cells?

Pus cells are dead polymorphonuclear leukocyte cells (macrophages and neutrophils) found in the pus. Pus is a thick fluid containing dead tissue, cells, and bacteria. The body often produces pus when fighting off an infection. The pus cells, together with infectious agents like bacteria, cell debris, and tissue fluid, are the constituents of the pus formed at the infection or injury site. Pus cells are neutrophils that have reached the site of infection as an immune response by the immune system against infectious organisms. These neutrophils engulf and kill infectious foreign organisms. However, pus cells eventually succumb to the process and become part of these viscous exudates.

Pus-causing infections can happen when bacteria or fungi enter the body through broken skin, inhaled droplets from a cough or sneeze, and poor hygiene. Infections involving bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Sterptococcus pyogenes can make pus. Both of these bacteria-releasing toxins damage tissues and create pus. The areas in the body where pus can form include the urinary tract, mouth, skin, and eyes. Moreover, pus-containing abscesses can be treated by applying a wet and warm compress, drawing pus with a needle, inserting a drainage tube, or antibiotics. Furthermore, the presence of a high number of pus cells in the urine is an indication of an infection.

What are Epithelial Cells?

Epithelial cells are a type of living cells found on the surfaces of skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs. These cells are the safety shields of the human body. The epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissues in the human body, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. It is a thin continuous protective layer of compactly packed cells, typically with the intercellular matrix. There are three principal shapes of epithelial cells: squamous, columnar, and cuboidal.

The epithelial cells perform a variety of functions, including protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration, diffusion, and sensory reception. Furthermore, it is normal to have a small number of epithelial cells in the urine. But a large amount may indicate an infection, kidney disease, or other serious medical condition.

What are the Similarities Between Pus Cells and Epithelial Cells?

• Pus cells and epithelial cells are two types of cells that can be found in the human body.
• Both cell types can provide protection to the human body.
• These cells are present in small amounts in urine.
• A large amount of both cell types in urine may indicate a medical condition such as an infection.

What is the Difference Between Pus Cells and Epithelial Cells?

Pus cells are a type of dead cell found in the pus, while epithelial cells are a type of live cells found on the surfaces of skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs. Thus, this is the key difference between pus cells and epithelial cells. Furthermore, pus cells are comparatively smaller cells than epithelial cells.

The below infographic presents the differences between pus cells and epithelial cells in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Pus Cells vs Epithelial Cells

Pus cells and epithelial cells are two types of cells that are involved in the protection of the human body in different ways. Pus cells are a type of dead cells found in the pus, while epithelial cells are a type of live cells found on the surfaces of skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs. So, this is the key difference between pus cells and epithelial cells.

Reference:

1. “Pus: What Is It and Why Does It Happen?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Epithelium: What It Is, Function & Types.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Bacteria and pus cells in a Gram stained smear of sputum” By Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Diagram of epithelial cells CRUK 033” By Cancer Research UK – Original email from CRUK (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia