Histology of the digestive system

Part 3
Anik Harkai
 Histological structure of the large intestines wall

1. Tunica mucosa the intestinal glands are long and characterized by a great abundance of
goblet and adsorptive cells and small number of enterendocrine cells.
Lamina epithelialis - simple columnar epithelium
Lamina propria mucosae - loose connective tissue, this region is rich in solitary lymphoid
nodules
Lamina muscularis mucosae - smooth muscle cells
2. Tunica submucosa loose connective tissue, submucosal (Meissners) plexus
3. Tunica muscularis comprises longitudinal and circular strands.
- Fibers of the outer longitudinal layer congregate in three thick longitudinal bands called teniae
coli.
- Haustra coli are the small pouches caused by sacculation, which give the large intestine its
segmented appearance.
- Peristaltic and segmental movements.
4. Tunica adventitia/serosa
- tunica serosa simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) and thin connective tissue
sublayer (lamina propria serosae). Appendices epiploicae are adipose structures protruding
from the serosal surface of the large intestine.
- tunica adventitia this region is not enveloped by peritoneum, the outermost layer is loose
connective tissue

There are no villi or plicae circulares in the large intestine.

43. Large intestine (HE)

Tunica Lamina
mucosa epithelialis

Tunica muscularis
Lamina
Lamina propria
muscularis
mucosae
Tunica
adventitia

Tunica
submucosa
43. Large intestine (HE)
Tunica musosa nerve

blood vessels

Tunica
submucosa

Lieberkhn-krypta Ganglion
Simple cells
columnar
epithelium
Lamina propria

Goblet cells blood vessels

Lamina
muscularis
mucosae
43. Large intestine (HE) Lamina muscularis mucosae
Tunica submucosa

Blood vessels

Lymphoid nodule
in lamina propria

Crypts of Lieberkhn
Lamina propria
 43. Large intestine (HE)

Lamina Lamina propria

epithelialis

Goblet cells

Nucleus of the goblet

cell Lamina propria
 44. Processus vermiformis (HE)

- General structure of Tunica muscularis

appendix is similar to
that of the large
intestine, it contains Tunica submucosa
fewer and shorter
intestinal glands and Blood vessels Lymphoid
has no teniae coli. nodules

- Lamina propria is rich

in lymphoid cells and in
nodules that frequently Adipocytes
extend into the
submucosa.
- Outer longitudinal
muscle layer is
continuous.
Lamina propria

Lymphoid nodules

Crypts of
Lieberkhn
44. Processus vermiformis (HE)
Lamina epithelialis

Crypts of Lieberkhn
Adipocytes
Lamina propria

Tunica submucosa

Lymphoid
nodules
Blood vessels
Tunica muscularis

Inner, stratum circulare

Outer, stratum longitudinale

42. Ileum (HE) 44. Processus vermiformis (HE)

Lymphoid
nodules Lymphoid nodules

Lymphoid nodules

Lymphoid nodules are found on Lymphoid nodules are found as a

the antimesenteric side of the complete ring in the submucosa
intestine. and lamina propria.
 Histological features of canalis analis

t. mucosa
Simple columnar
epithelium

Inner, stratum

anal gl.
Zona columnaris

circulare

Outer, stratum
longitudinale

Columnae
anales Zona
columnaris
Zona intermedia

Zona
intermedia
m. sphincter ani
internus
Anal sinus
Zona cutanea

Stratified, nonkeratinized,
squamous epithelium Rhlich Pl: Szvettan
1. Zona columnaris:
45. Canalis analis (HE)
- The mucous membrane forms a series of longitudinal
folds, the rectal colums of Morgagni
- There are anal sinuses between the anal columns
Transition between simple columnar epithelium and
stratified nonkeratinized squamous epithelium
2. Zona intermedia:
- Stratified nonkeratinized squamous epithelium
- Rectal venous plexus or hemorrhoidal plexus
3. Zona cutanea:
- Stratified keratinized squamous epithelium
- Sweat glands, sebaceous glands (holocrine gl.),
pigment cells
- Glandulae circumanales (apocrine sweat gl.)

Muscle:
- Sphincter ani internus (smooth muscle)
- Sphincter ani externus (striated muscle)
- No teniae coli
 45. Canalis analis (HE)
Simple columnar epithelium
Zona columnaris

Transition of
epithelium

Zona intermedia

Stratified nonkeratizined Venous plexus

squamous epithelium
45. Canalis analis (HE)
Zona intermedia

Rectal venous plexus

Stratified nonkeratizined
squamous epithelium
 45. Canalis analis (HE)
Zona cutanea

Stratified keratinized
squamous epithelium

Circumanal
Hair follicle glands

Sebaceous glands
 45. Canalis analis (HE)
Zona cutanea

Circumanal gland

Hair follicle

Sebaceous gland