HISTOLOGY OF THE

EAR

THE EAR
Ear
Sensory organ functions as an auditory
system for sound perception and as a
vestibular system for balance

General Structure
External Ear
Middle Ear
Internal Ear

External
Ear
Pinna
Auricle
Elastic cartilage except in auricle lobule
Covered by hair-bearing skin hair
follicles, sweat gland and sebaceus
gland
Function To collect and amplifies
sounds

 External Acoustic Meatus

An air-filled tubulae space 25 mm to
tympanic membrane
Lined by skin hair follicles, sebaceous
gland & ceruminous glands
The outer 2/3 elastic cartilage
The inner 1/3 temporal bone

Middle Ear
Tympanic
Membrane
oval, grayish
3 layers
Outer layer covered
by skin, stratified
squamous epithelium,
no glands, no hair
Middle layer
Fibrocollagenous
support tissue
Inner layer lined by
low cuboidal
epithelium

 Auditory ossicles
3 bones malleus, incus, stapes
2 muscles m tensor timpany & m. stapedius
Convert the sound waves to mechanical vibration in
perilmfe of the internal ear

Mastoid air cells

An air-filled spaces in the mastoid bone

 Tympanic cavity
= Middle ear cavity
An air-filled space lined by low cuboidal epithelium
Communicates with mastoid air cells

Auditory tube (eustachian tube)

Connects the middle ear to nasopharynx
A narrow channel 3.5 cm long
Lined with cilliated pseudostratified columnair
epithelium 1/5 composed of goblet cells
Ventilating the middle ear
Equalizing the pressure ot the middle ear with
atmosphere pressure

Internal Ear
Consists of :
2 labyrinthine compartments
Bony labyrinth
Membranous labyrinth

3 fluid-filled spaces
Endolymphatic space
Perilymphatic space
Cortilymphatic space

Bony Labyrinth
Composed of 3 cavities
vestibule, semicircular
canals, cochlea
Lined by periosteum, filled
by perilymph
Vestibule
Oval
Oval window

Semicircular canals
3 canals anterior,

posterior & lateral

Expanded at the end of
each canals close to the
vestibule ampulla

Cochlea
Contains 3 spaces

vestibular cavity (scala

vestibuli), cochlear duct
(scala media) & tympanic
cavity (scala tympani)
wound in a spiral shape
The central spiral of bone
within the cochlea
Modiolus
At the apex the vestibular
& tympanic cavity connect
at an opening
Helicotrema Helicotrema

Membranous
Labyrinth
Vestibular labyrinth
3 semicircular ducts
Utricle & saccule
Thin wall, transparent
Semicircular ducts
3 ducts, expand at the end
ampulla
A raised mass of epithelial
tissue in ampulla crista
ampullaris contains of
sensory & supporting cells
A gelatinous mass of
extracellular material
covering the crista cupula

 Utricle
Ends of semicircular
ducts
Lateral wall
macula of utricle

Saccule
Utriculosaccular duct
connect the utricle
& saccule
Endolymphatic duct
saccule and
endolymphatic sac
Reuniens duct
saccule with
cochlear duct
Medial wall macula
of saccule

Macula
Contains of sensory
hair cells & supporting
cells
2 types of sensory cells
Type 1 hair cells
Type 2 hair cells

The sensory &

supporting cells
covered by a gelatinous
mass of extracellular
molecules otolithic
membrane
Detect the gravity and
static position

Cochlear Labyrinth
Contains the cochlear ducts, filled with endolymph
Divides the cochlear canal into 3 compartments : Scala media,
scala vestibuli & scala tympani
Scala media is a triangular space, attached to osseous spiral
lamina
The upper wall of scala media Reissners (Vestibular) membrane
The lateral wall of scala media Stria vascularis
The lower wall Basilar membrane
The spiral organ of corti rests on the basilar membrane & is
overlain by the Tectorial membrane

 Tectorial membrane
Attached medially to
the modiolus
Lateral edge attaches
to the organ corti by
stereocilia of the hair
cells
Formed from
extracellular material

 Organ of Corti
Composed of epithelial
support cells and sensory
hair cells
Medially it rests on osseous
spiral lamina, laterally on the
basilar membrane
2 groups of hair cells
Inner hair cells & Outer
hair cells separated by
the inner tunnel (tunnel of
corti)
The hair cells are surrounded
by epithelial support cells
Pilar cells surround &
support the inner tunnel
Phalangeal cells support
the hair cells

HISTOLOGY OF THE EYE

Batari Todja Umar

THE EYE
Spherical structure, 25 mm in diameter
Suspended in the bony orbital socket 6 extrinsic muscles
Wall of the eye 3 concentric layers
Fibrous tunic
Vascular tunic
Nerve tunic

SCLERA
A thick fibrous layer, covers the
posterior 5/6 of the eyeball
Divided into 3 layers :
Episclera

External layer
Loose connective tissue adjacent to the
periorbital fat

Stroma (Substantia propria)

= Tenons capsule
Composed of dense network of thick
collagen fibers

Lamina Fushcae
Inner aspect, adjacent
to the choroid
Contains of thinner
collagen & elastic
fibers
Melanocyte

Function :
Protects & maintains
the shape and the
volume of the
eyeball

Corneoscleral Limbus
Transitional zone
between the cornea
& sclera
1.5 2 mm wide, 1
mm thick
Iridocorneal angle
apparatus for the
outflow of the
aqueous humor
trabecular meshwork

Cornea
Transparent,
0.5 mm thick
at the center,
avascular, 5
layers

Corneal
epithelium

Non-keratinizing
squamous epithelium
Basal cell layer gives
rise to 5-7 superficial
layers
Free nerve endings
terminate in this
epithelium
Adheres to the adjacent
cells by desmosomes

Bowmans Membrane

8-10 m thick
Composed of fine
collagen fibrils
Barrier to the spread
of infection
Not regenerate

Corneal stroma

Constitutes 90% of
the corneal thickness
Composed of about
60 thin lamellae
Each lamellae consist
of parallel bundles of
colagen fibrils

Descemet membrane

Basal lamina of
endothelial cells
Homogen
Elastic, transparent
7 10 m

Corneal endothelium

A single layer of
squamous cells
Metabolic exchange
between the cornea
& aqueous humor
Precise regulation of
the water content of
the stroma
maintain the
transparency
Physical & metabolic
changes corneal
swelling

IRIS
The most anterior part of the vascular tunic,
forms a contractile diaphragm in front of the
lens, a circular apperture (pupil) changes in size
in response to the light intensity. Eye colour is
determined by the relative number of
melanocytes

Composed of 4 layers

Anterior limiting membrane

Fibroblastic & melanocyte cells

Stroma

Loose fibrocollagenous support tissue

Blood vessels, nerve, melanin pigment
Sphincter muscle of the pupil

 Epithelial layer

Anterior non-pigmented
epithelium

Dilator pupillae muscle

Posterior pigment
epithelium

Faces the posterior chamber of

the eye

Cilliary Body
Triangular shape
Extends from the base of the iris to
the ora serrata
2 anatomical regions
Pars plica
Pars plana

Function :
Aqueous humor production
Acomodation process

 The layers are similar

to the iris
Consist of :
Stroma
Outer layer of
smooth muscle
cilliary muscle
Meridional
(longitudinal
portion)
Radial (oblique
portion)
Circular portion

Inner vascular
region extends
into the cilliary
process
Continuous with
the vascular
layer of the
choroid

 Epithelial layers
3 principal functions
Secretion of aqueous humor
Paticipation in blood aqueous barrier
Secretion & anchoring the zonula fibers

The inner cells layer non-pigmented

The outer cells layer pigmented

CHOROID

Dark-brown vascular
sheet, 0.25 mm thick
posteriorly, 0.1 mm
thick anteriorly
Lies between the sclera
& retina
Supports the retina
Contains of :
Suprachoroid lamina

30 m thick

Loose connective
tissue
Choroidal stroma

Numerous venules &

arterioles
Haller layer (outer part)
Sattler layer (inner part

Choriocapillary

4.

Capillary layer supporting the deep layer of the retina

Diameter 40 60 m
Thin wall

Bruchs membrane

1-4 m thick
Interface between the choroid & the retinal pigment epithelium

RETINA
10 layers
1. Retinal pigment
epithelium
2. Photoreceptor cells
3. Outer limiting membrane
4. Outer nuclear layer
5. Outer plexiform layer
6. Inner nuclear layer
7. Inner plexiform layer
8. Ganglion cells
9. Nerve fiber layer
10. Inner limiting membrane

Retinal Layers

Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Photoreceptor cells

REFRACTIVE MEDIA OF THE EYE

LENS
Transparent, avascular,
biconvex
Suspended between the edges
of cilliary body zonula fibers
9 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm thick
Capsule
A thick basal lamina
Produced by the anterior lens
cells

Subcapsular epithelium

Cuboidal layer of cells

Only on the anterior surface of
the lens

Lens fibers

Derived from subcapsular

epithelial cells

 Vitreous Body
Between the lens & the retina
Transparent gelatinous structure
Attach to the surrounding structures
Main portion is homogenous gel containing 99%
water, collagen, hyaluronate acid
Avascular

ACCESORY COMPONENTS OF THE EYE

Conjunctiva
A translucent membrane
Extends from corneoscleral limbus - internal
surface of the eyelid
2 layers
Stratified columnar epithelium
Goblet cells mucin

Lamina propria
Loose connective tissue
Blood vessels & lymphatic vessels

 Palpebra
Upper & lower eyelid
Protection of the eye
Contains of :

Skin
Orbicularis oculi muscle
Tarsal plate
Conjunctiva
Glands
Meibomian glands
Sebaceous type
Oily layer of the
tear film
Embedded in the
tarsal plate
Glands of Zeis
Sebaceous glands
Glands of Moll
Apocrine sweat
glands
Glands of Krause
Fornix conjunctiva
Glands of Wolfring
Above the tarsal
plate

Lacrimal apparatus
Lacrimal glands
Upper lateral side of the
orbit
2 parts : orbital &
palpebral parts
10 20 ducts
Several separate
lobules of tubuloacinar
serous glands
Drains into the upper
fornix
Wash over the surface
of the eye

 Tears drain from the eye

through lacrimal puncta
Lacrimal canaliculi at
medial angle,
Merge into common
lacrimal duct
Open into lacrimal sac,
pseudostratified ciliated
epithelium
Continuous to
nasolacrimal duct open
to nasal cavity below the
inferior turbinate

HISTOLOGY OF THE
NOSE

NASAL CAVITY
Paired chambers
separated by a
bony &
cartilaginous
septum

Divided into 3
regions :
Vestibule
Respiratory
segment
Olfactory
segment

Vestibule of the Nasal Cavity

Communicates anteriorly with the external
environment
Lined with stratified squamous epithelium
Contains of :
Stiff hair (vibrissae) entraps the large particles
Sebaceous glands
Sweat glands

Olfactory Segment of the Nasal

Cavity
Located at the dome of each nasal cavity
Lined with olfactory mucosa
Lamina propria of olfactory mucosa
directly contigous with the periosteum
Contains of blood & lymphatic vessels, nerve &
olfactory glands (Bowman glands)
The secretion of the glands solvent in which
odorous substances dissolve

Olfactory mucosa pseudostratified

columnar epithelium

Olfactory epithelium
Composed of :
Olfactory
receptor cells
Bipolar neurons
posses an apical
projecting bearing
cilia as a receptor
Apical pole
dendritic process
above the
epithelial surface
as a knoblike
structure
olfactory vesicle

Supporting
(Sustentacular) cells
Most numerous cells
Nuclei more apical
position
Microvili on the apical
surface
Function : metabolic &
physical support to the
olfactory cells
Basal cells
Stem cells new
olfactory cells &
supporting cells
Brush cells
Uncommon
Similar to the respiratory
epithelium

HISTOLOGY OF THE
SKIN

INTEGUMENT
The largest organ of the body
Extensive organ forms the external
covering of the body
Constituting 15-20% of total body mass
Consist of 2 principles layers :
Outer epithelial layer epidermis
Deeper connective tissue layer Dermis

EPIDERMI
S
Protective skin layer in contact
with the external environment
Keratinized, stratified squamous
epithelium
5 layers : basale, spinosum,
granulosum, lucidum, corneum
Main cells are keratinocytes
each layer have a characteristic
appearance, produce keratin
Avascular

a. Stratum Basale

= stratum
germinativum
Single layer cells,
cuboidal or low
columnar
Mitotically active cells
Stem cells of the
epidermis new cell of
the skin keratinocyte
2 other cells type :
Melanocytes

Dendritic cells
Produce the dark brownblack pigment of the skin

Merkel cells

Sensory cell

b. Stratum
Spinosum

2 6 cells layer thick

Cuboidal or low
columnar
The cells synthesize
large amount of keratin
fiament
Mature cells move to
the surface, increase in
size and become
flattened in a plane
parallel to the surface
A specialized cell of
immune system
Langerhans cells
derived from bone
marrow stem cells
part of the peripheral
immune system

c. Stratum Granulosum
The most superficial
layer of the nonkeratinized portion of
the epidermis
2-5 cells layer thick
Keratinocytes 2 types
of granules
Keratohyaline granules
Membrane-coating
granules (lamellar
bodies)

As these cells continue

to differentiate
degrade most of major
cell organelles leaves
the keratohyaline to
form the keratin

d. Stratum Lucidum
Thick skin
1st anucleate cell
layer of the skin
In the very thick skin
4 7 cells layer thick
Cytoplasmic
organelles disappear
as the cells gradually
fills with keratin

e.
Stratum
Corneum
The most superficial
layer
The most
differentiated layer
5 10 cells layer thick
Dozens of cell layer
thick on the palmar &
plantar surface

DERMI
S
Connective tissue directly under the epidermis
Composed of collagen & elastin fibers
Contains of :
Extensive network of blood vessels, sweat glands,
nerve, lymphatic vessels, hair shaft & sebaceous glands

2 layers :
Papillary dermis
Reticular dermis

1. Papillary Dermis
Interface with the
epidermis
Consist of irregular sets of
interdigitating structures
The downward project rete
pegs
The upward project
dermal papillae
Contains of many
capillaries
2. Reticular Dermis
Thick layer
The fibers are thicker than
the papillary dermis
High vascular, nerve
bundles, sweat glands, hair
follicles

HAIR
A complex structures,
originates in a hair
follicle
Each hair shaft
composed of 3 layers :
Medulla
Central part of the
shaft
Only in thick hairs

Cortex
Peripheral to the
medulla
Cuboidal cells

Cuticle of the hair

shaft
Squamous cells
Outermost layer of
the hair

Hair Follicle
Divide into 3
segments
Infundibulum
Surface - opening of
sebaceous gland
Part of pilocebaceous
canal route for the
discharge of sebum

Isthmus
Infundibulum insertion of the
arrector pili muscle

Inferior segment
Growing follicle, form
the hair bulb

Internal root sheath

3 layers
Cuticle
Squamous cells
Faces the hair shaft

Huxleys layer
Single or double
layer of flatenned
cells

Henles layer
Outer single layer of
cuboidal cells

External root sheath

NAIL
Nail plates Hard keratin
Nail root proximal part of the
nail buried in a fold epidermis
eponychium
Crescent shape near the root
lunula
Free edge of nail plate
hyponichium

GLAND
S
Sebaceous Glands

Whole body except the palmar & plantar surface

In association with hair follicles
The secretions empty into the emerging hair
pilosebaceous duct
Tubuloalveolar shape
Secrete by the holocrine mechanism

shaft

through

Sweat Glands
Eccrine Sweat Glands
Independent
structures, not
associated with hair
follicles
2 segments :
secretory segment
3 cells type
Clear cells & dark
cells
Myoepithelial cells

duct segment
Stratified cuboidal
epithelium
The cells are
smaller & darker
than secretory
potion
Smaller diameter
No myoepithelial
cells

The secretion : watery,

hypotonic, odor-free

 Apocrine Sweat Glands

Found in axilla &
perianals area
Functional in puberty
Larger than eccrine
sweat glands
Secretory portion
Wider lumen than eccrine
glands
1 cell type

Excretory portion
As a part of the
pilosebaceous duct

The secretions
protein & lipid
components
Odorless in the time of
secretion
Through bacterial action
on the skin surface odor
characteristic of the
spesific location of the
glands

HISTOLOGY OF THE
TONGUE

TONGUE
Muscular organ covered in squamous epithelium
Inferior surface covered by non-keratinizing stratified
squamous epithelium
Upper surface covered by thick keratinizing stratified
squamous epithelium

Upper
Surface
Divided into 2
main zone :
Anterior 2/3
Posterior 1/3
Separated by Vshaped line
(sulcus
terminalis) of 610 dome shape
protrusions

 The surface epithelium of anterior

2/3 of the tongue raised in series
of elevation papillae
3 types papillae :
Filiform papillae
Fungiform papillae
Circumvallate papillae lined on Vshaped line

 Filiform papillae
The smallest, most
numerous in humans
Found all over the
upper surface of 2/3
anterior part
Tall, narrow,
keratinized
No taste buds, serve
only mechanical role

 Fungiform Papillae
Mushroom
shape,
scattered
randomly among the filiform papillae
Primary & secondary papillae
Numerous at the tip of the tongue
Taste buds are present
Anterior tip sweet taste
Behind the tip & along the lateral border
salty taste

 Circumvallate
papillae
Large,
dome-shape
structures on the sulcus
terminalis
Surrounded by cleft
Contains
numerous
taste buds
Numerous primary &
secondary papillae
von
Ebners
gland
empty their secretion
into the base of the
cleft
The secretion flushes
the material from the
cleft to enable the taste
buds to respond rapidly
in changing stimuli

Foliate papillae
Numerous in animals
Lateral edge of the
tongue
In younger found on
the post-lateral surface
In elderly obliterate
Taste Buds ++
Primary papillae long
& large
Secondary papillaer
very high
Small serous gland
empty into the cleft

Taste
Buds

Sensory receptor for taste

Onion-like shape
Occupies the fullthickness
of epithelium
Small opening onto
epithelial surface taste
pore
3 principal cell types
neuroepithelial (sensory)
cells, supporting cells,
basal cells
Sensory cells most
numerous cells, turnoever
time 10 days
Supporting cells less
numerous, do not sinapse
with the nerve cells
Basal cells basal portion,
stem cells for the 2 other
cells type

 Taste is characterized as chemical sensation

substance contained in food interact with taste
receptors
React to 5 basic stimuli sweet, salty, bitter, sour
& umami
Umami taste of certain amino acids (e.g
glutamate, aspartate)
Sweet stimuli tip of the tongue
Salty stimuli posterolateral to the tip
Sour stimuli more posterolateral to the tip
Bitter & umami stimuli circumvallate papillae

Skeletal muscle is arranged in many directions

longitudinally
vertically
transversely
obliquely
Great mobility to manipulate food around the mouth for :
efficient fragmentation
moving fragmented food backward prior to
swallowing
control the tongue movement for speech

Posterior 1/3 of the tongue

= Root of the tongue
No papillae
Covered by non-keratinizing
stratified squamous epithelium