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Ajman University of Science & Technology

Facultyy off Dentistryy


Histology & Cell Biology
08 01 112
Dr. Al
Al--Moutassem Billah Khair

Epithelial Tissues
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Epithelia are a diverse group of tissues which cover or line all
body surfaces,
surfaces cavities and tubes,
tubes thus function as interface
between different biological compartments
compartments..
¾ Surface epithelia form continuous sheets comprising one or more layers of
cells..
cells
¾ The cells are separated by a minute quantity of intercellular material
material..
¾ Epithelial cells are closely bound to one another by a variety of membrane
specializations
p calledd cell ju
junctions..
junctions
¾ All epithelia are supported by a basement membrane.
membrane.
¾ Epithelial cell nuclei have a variable shape (spherical to elongated or
elliptic), which often corresponds roughly to the cell shape.
shape.
Epithelial
p Tissues
‰ Epithelial tissues may be derived from:
from:
Ectoderm: like skin, oral cavity, anus, ear, nose, eye, enamel,
Ectoderm:
ppituitary,
y mammary,y and sweat gglands
glands..
Mesoderm:: two types
Mesoderm
- the lining of blood and lymphatic vessels (termed endothelium)
endothelium)..
- the lining of the serous cavities (termed mesothelium).
mesothelium).
Endoderm
E
Endoderm:
d d : gastrointestinal
i i l tract
tract;; respiratory
i tract
tract;; urinary
i
bladder;; liver and pancreas;
bladder pancreas; thyroid and parathyroid glands;
glands;
andd salivary
li r glands
glands.
l d.
Epithelial derivatives of embryonic germ layers
Germ layer Epithelial Derivatives
Ectoderm 1. Skin.
2. Sweat gland &ducts.
3. Lining of oral cavity & vaginal & anal canal.
Mesoderm 1. Endothelium lining blood vessels.
2. Mesothelium lining body cavities.
3
3. Lining of genital & urinary ducts & tubules.
tubules
Endoderm 1. Lining of esophagus.
2
2. Lining of gastrointestinal tract.
3. Lining of gallbladder .
4. Solid gglands such as the liver & pancreas.
p
5. Lining of respiratory system pseudostratified ciliated
columnar
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Functions of epithelia
epithelia::
¾ Covering
C g and liningg off bodyy surfaces,
f , so everything
y g that enters
or leaves the body must cross them.
them.
Absorption (like
(like:: products of digestion)
Diffusion (like:
(like: lungs, blood vessels …)
Secretion (like
(like:: glands)
Sensation (like:
(like: olfactory epithelium, taste buds, …)
¾ Protection (against
(against:: mechanical injury,
injury dehydration,
dehydration infection
and also from radiant energy)
¾ Contractility (myoepithelial cells)
¾ Reproduction (germinal or seminiferous epithelium)
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Classification of epithelia
Epithelia
i h li are traditionally
di i ll classified
l ifi d according
di toto::
¾ The number of cell layers:
layers: a single layer (simple epithelium) or two or more
la r (stratified
layers ( tratifi d epithelium)
epithelium).
ith li ).
¾ The shape of cells
cells:: this is based on the appearance in section taken at right
angles to the epithelial surface
surface.. In stratified epithelia the shape of the
surface layer determines the type (squamous, cuboidal and columnar).
columnar).
¾ The ppresence off surface
f specialization
p like microvilli and cilia (only
( y with
simple columnar) and keratin (only with stratified squamous).
squamous).
Epithelia are also divided into two main groups according to
their structure and function:
function: covering and glandular epithelia.
epithelia.
Epithelial
p Tissues
‰ Simple
p squamous
q epithelium
epithelium:
p :
is composed of flattened, irregularly shaped cells forming a continuous
surface.. The term squamous derives from the comparison of the cells to the
surface
scales of the fish.
fish.
is found lining surfaces involved in diffusion of either gases (as in the
l
lungs),
) or fluids
fl id (as
( in
i the
h walls
ll off blood
bl d capillaries)
capillaries).
ill i ).
forms the delicate lining of the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities
where it permits passage of tissue fluid into and out of these cavities
cavities..
the nuclear chromatin is condensed and the cytoplasm is sparse and
contains ffew organelles
g which reflect
f the minimal metabolic activityy off
these cells.
cells.
Epithelial
p Tissues
‰ Simple
p cuboidal epithelium
epithelium:
p :
represents an intermediate form between simple squamous and simple
columnar epithelium.
epithelium.
in section perpendicular to the basement membrane, its cells appear square ;
on surface view, however, the cells are actually polygonal in shape.
shape.
the nucleus is usually round and located in the centre of the cell.
cell. Reflecting
the considerable metabolic activity of these cells, the nuclear chromatin is
relatively dispersed and nucleoli are prominent
prominent..
usually lines small ducts and tubules which may have excretory, secretory
or absorptive
p ffunctions (examples
( x p are the small collectingg ducts off the
kidney, salivary glands and pancreas).
pancreas).
Epithelial
p Tissues
‰ Simple columnar epithelium
is similar to simple cuboidal but its cells are taller and appear columnar in
sections at right angles to the basement membrane.
membrane.
the height of the cells may vary from low to tall columnar.
columnar.
the nuclei are elongated and may be located towards the base, the centre or
the
h apex off the
h cytoplasm
cytoplasm-
l - polarity.
polarity
l i .
is mostly found on highly absorptive surfaces such as in the small intestine
and gall bladder,
bladder although it may constitute the lining of highly secretory
surfaces such as that of the stomach.
stomach.
the apical
p surface
f off highly
g y absorptive
p epithelial
p cells often
f contains
microvilli which greatly increase the absorptive surface area.
area.
‰ Simple columnar ciliated epithelium
is described as a separate type because of the presence of cilia on the
majority of the cell.
cell.
each cell mayy have upp to 300 cilia which move to ppropel
p ffluid or minute
particles over the epithelial surface.
surface.
is not common in humans except in the female reproductive tract.
tract.
between ciliated cells are scattered non-
non-ciliated cells which usually have a
secretory function
Epithelial
p Tissues
‰ Pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium
the name is derived from the appearance of this epithelium in section which
gives wrong impression that there is more than on layer of cells.
cells.
is true simple
l epithelium
hl since allll cells
ll rest on the
h basement
b membrane.
membrane
b .
the nuclei of these cells however are disposed at different levels, thus
giving the wrong cellular stratification
stratification..
not all cells extend to the luminal surface but all adhere to basal lamina.
lamina.
two types of cells form this epithelium,
epithelium tall columnar and short polyhedral
polyhedral..
Has two characteristics which distinguish it from true stratified epithelia
– its individual cells exhibit
x ppolarityy
– cilia never present on stratified epithelia
trachea bronchi,
is found to line the trachea, bronchi and nasal cavity
cavity..
lines also the epididymis and ductus (vas) deferens with
stereocilia.
stereocilia
t r ilia.
Epithelial Tissues
Stratified epithelia
epithelia::
consisting of two or more layers of cells.
cells.
have mainly a protective function
function..
are poorly suited for the function of absorption and secretion because
of their thickness (some may be are moderately permeable to water and
small molecules).
molecules).
The degree of stratification is related to the kinds of physical stresses to
which the surface is exposed.
exposed.
classification is based on the shape of and structure of the surface cells
since cells
ll off the
h basal
b l layer
l are usually
ll cuboidal
b d l in shape.
shape
h .
‰ Stratified squamous epithelium
layers which exhibit transition from a cuboidal
variable number of cell layers,
basal layer to a flattened surface layer.
layer.
basal cells divide continuouslyy to replace
p the surface
f sheddingg cells
cells..
is well adapted to withstand abrasion.
abrasion.
lines the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, anal canal, uterine cervix and
vagina, sites which
h h are subject
b to mechanical
h l abrasion
b b which
but h h are kept
k
moist by glandular secretions.
secretions.
‰ Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium
Thi specialized
This i li d type
t f
forms th epidermis
the id i off the th skin
ki andd isi adapted
d t d to
t
withstand the constant abrasion and desiccation to which the body surface
is exposed.
exposed
xp . The surface
f layers
y are non
non--vital and fform kkeratin containers.
containers.
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Stratified cuboidal epithelium
is thin, usually consist of only two oor th
three
ee layers
laye s of cuboidal oor low
columnar cells.
cells.
is usually confined to the lining of the large excretory ducts of exocrine
glands ( like:
like: salivary glands & sweat glands).
glands).
it is probably not involved in significant absorptive or secretory activity
but
b merely l provides
d a more strong lining
l than
h would ld be
b afforded
ff d d by
b simplel
epithelium..
epithelium
‰ Stratified
St tifi d columnar
l epithelium
ith li
it is relatively rare.
rare. Basal layer is polyhedral cells, surface layer columnar
cells..
cells
lines conjunctiva and part of male urethra.
urethra.
‰ Transitional epithelium (Stratified)
tract which highly specialized to accommodate
exclusively lines the urinary tract,
a great degree of stretch & to withstand the toxicity of urine.
urine.
It has some ffeatures off stratified
f cuboidal & stratified f squamous
q epithelium
p
4 to 5 layers in relaxed state
state;; basal cells are cuboidal, intermediate cells are
polyhedral, and surface cells are large, rounded & may be binucleate.
binucleate.
2 or 3 layers
l in stretched
h d state
state;; the
h intermediate
d & surface
f layers
l are
extremely flattened.
flattened.
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Specialization of epithelial cell surfaces
¾ Free surfaces (luminal) of epithelial cells may show three main
types of specialization, microvilli, cilia and stereocilia.
stereocilia.
¾ Lateral surfaces (intercellular) of epithelial cells are linked by
several different types of membrane and cytoskeletal
specialization, which contribute to communication and co- co-
operation between cells to achieve the functions of epithelium
epithelium..
¾ Basal surfaces of epithelial cells show three types of
specialization, basement membrane, hemidesmosomes and basal
infoldings..
infoldings
Microvilli are minute finger-
finger-like projections of the luminal
l
plasma b
membrane f d in
found i many epithelia
i h li particularly
i l l those
h
specialized for absorption.
absorption.
„ These projections may increase
the surface area more than 30
times..
times
ti
„ Microvilli are about 0.5-1.0
µm in length
length..
„ Epithelial cell may have up to
3000 microvilli
microvilli..
„ The cytoplasmic core of each
microvillus contains fine
protein filaments which insert
into the terminal web, that
form part of cytoskeleton
cytoskeleton..
Cilia are motile structures which project in parallel rows from
h l l luminal
certain epithelial l l surfaces,
f ll in respiratory tracts
especially
and oviducts
oviducts..
„ Cilia are about 5-10 µm in
l th andd 0.2 µm in
length i diameter
di t .
diameter.
„ Epithelial cell may have up to
300 cilia usually of same
length..
length
„ Each cilium is bounded byy a
plasma membrane.
membrane.
„ Cilium contains a central core
called the axoneme consisting
of a central two microtubules
surrounded by nine peripheral
doublets..
doublets
„ The axoneme,
x , at its base,,
inserts into a basal body.
body.
„ Cilia beat with a wave- wave-like
synchronous rhythm propelling
surface
f films
f l off mucus or fluid
fl d
in a consistent direction over
the epithelial surface
surface..
„ Action of cilia results from
longitudinal
g movement off the
doublets..
doublets
„ Energy for the movement of
cilia is provided by subjacent
mitochondria in the form of
ATP..
ATP
Stereocilia are very long microvilli found in small number in
dd
epididymis andd ductus
d df
deferens.
deferens U ll they
. Usually h have
h the h form
f off cilia
l
but do not have microtubules and contain filamentous skeleton.
skeleton.
Junctional complex

Tight junctions “Zonulae


occludens
occludens”
*They locate immediately under
the luminal surface of
epithelium..
epithelium
**Theyy seal the intercellular
spaces so that luminal contents
cannot penetrate between the
li i cells.
lining cells
ll .
***Each tight junction forms a
continuous circumferential band
or zonule around the cell.
cell.
Junctional complex

Adhering junctions
They tightly bind the constituent
cells of the epithelium together and
act as anchoring
h sites for
f theh
cytoskeleton of each cell.
cell.
They are of two morphological
types::
types
Zonula adherens that forms a
continuous band around the cell
providing structural reinforcement
to the occluding junction.
junction.
Junctional complex
Macula adherens or Desmosomes
are circumferentially arranged
around the columnar cell deep to
the continuous adhering junction
in the form of small circular
patches or spots.
spots.
Larger
g desmosomes are also widelyy
scattered over the intercellular
surfaces of all epithelial cells.
cells.
Desmosomes number are greatest
in stratified squamous epithelia
providing structural integrity at
surfaces subject to stress (friction).
(friction).
Communicating junctions are broad patches where adjacent
plasma membranes are closely opposed leaving a narrow intervening
gap (named gap junction).
junction).
„ Each gap junction contains numerous pores which permit the passage of
positively charged ions and other small molecules (>2
(>2nm) from one cell to
another..
another
„ Each pore consists of a minute tubular structure called connexon which
traverses the intercellular gap.
gap. The connexon consists of two ring-
ring-like
cylinders, one penetrating each of the opposing cell membrane
membrane.. Each
cylinder is made up of six transmembrane protein molecules.
molecules.
„ Gap junctions are more numerous in embryonic
b epithelia.
epithelia
hl .
„ They are also probably involved in the passage of nutrients from cells deep
i the
in h epithelium
i h li to cells
ll more far
f from
f the
h nutritional
i i l supply
supply.
l.
„ Gap junctions also provide the means of electrical coupling of visceral and
cardiac
di musclel cells
ll permitting
itti synchronous
h contraction
contraction.
t ti .
Basement membranes, of variable thickness, separate epithelia
from underlining supporting tissues and are never penetrated by
blood vessels.
vessels. Thus, epithelia are dependent on the diffusion of
oxygen andd metabolites
b l from f adjacent
d supporting tissues
tissues.. It is non-
non-
cellular structure composed of basal lamina and reticular lamina
andd can be
b seen with
ith light
li ht microscope
microscope.
i .
With the electron microscope, the basement membrane appears as
three layers:
layers: lamina lucida (20
20--50 nm) and lamina densa (20 20--300
nm) (together basal lamina) ; and the lamina fibroreticularis which
merges withh the
h underlying
d l connective tissue
tissue..
Hemidesmosomes (half desmosomes) are present on the inner
aspect of the basal plasma membrane providing anchorage of the
cytoskeleton to the basement membrane and underling tissues.
tissues.
Basal infoldings are folds in basal membrane of some cells
(kidney tubules & striated ducts of salivary glands) to increase the
cell surface for passage of absorbed fluid and ions from
surrounding capillary
capillary..
Epithelial Tissues
‰ Glandular epithelial tissues
¾ are formed
f d by
b cells
ll specialized
i li d to produce
d secretion.
secretion
i .
¾ cells may synthesize, store, and secrete proteins, lipids, ….
¾ can be classified according to different criteria.
criteria.
¾ mayy consist off isolated cells “unicellular” or are composed off
cluster of cells “multicellular”.
“multicellular”.
¾ always
y arise ffrom surface
f epithelium
p byy cell pproliferation
f and
invasion of subjacent connective tissue, followed by
differentiation.
ff
differentiation.
¾ exist into two types:
types: endocrine (ductless) and exocrine.
exocrine.
Goblet cells
„ Are modified columnar cells
scattered amongstg the cell off
many simple epithelia, which
synthesis and secrete mucus.
mucus.
„ Named for their resemblance to
drinking goblets.
goblets.
„ Mucus has
M h a variety
i t off functions
f ti .
functions.
In respiratory tract it protects
ffrom drying,
y g, acts as trapp ffor fine
f
particles & microorganisms.
microorganisms. In
upper gastrointestinal protects
f
from autodigestion
di i andd in i lower
l i
it
lubricates the passage of feces.
feces.
Exocrine glands
Exocrine glands discharge their secretory product via a duct onto epithelial
surface.. They may be classified according to two major characteristics:
surface characteristics:
‰ Th morphology
The h l off the
h gland.
gland
l d. Exocrine
i glands
l d may be
b divided
di id d into
i simple
i l
and compound according to structure of their duct, and in tubular and
acinar in relationship to their secretory portion
portion..
‰ The means of discharge of secretions.
secretions. This occurs in three ways:
ways:
) Merocrine “eccrine” involves the pprocess off exocytosis
x y & is the most
common form of secretion (e.
(e.g. proteins)
proteins)..
) Apocrine involves the discharge of free, unbroken, membrane-
membrane-bound
vesicles, this is an unusual mode of secretion applies to lipid secretion
“breasts & some sweat glands”.
glands”.
) Holocrine
H l i involves
i l di h
discharge off whole
h l secretory cellsll with
i h subsequent
b
disintegration of the cells to release the secretion “sebaceous glands”.
glands”.
Simple tubular glands Simple coiled tubular glands
Large intestine Sweat glands
Simple acinar
Penile urethra
Simple branched tubular Simple branched acinar
Stomach Sebaceous glands
Compound tubular glands Compound acinar glands
Brunner’s glands Pancreas
Compound tubulo-
tubulo-acinar
Submandibular salivary glands
„ Endocrine glands
They are ductless glands.
The secretory product diffusing directly into the bloodstream.
Secretions are hormones which control the activity of cells &
tissues usually far removed from the site of secretion.
secretion
They are of two types:
) Mostt endocrine
M d i glands
l d consist
i t off clumps
l or cords
d off secretory
t
cells surrounded by a rich network of small blood vessels (e.g.
pituitary gland).
gland)
) Follicular endocrine glands consist of spheroidal cavities
enclosed
l d byb the
th secretory
t cells;
ll these
th units it are called
ll d follicles
f lli l
(e.g. thyroid gland).

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