EPITHELIAL TISSUE

DR.SATYA
 EPITHELIA

Its one of the 4 basic tissues which may be present

in the following forms.

(1) as lining epithelum - sheet(s) of contiguous cells

with one or more layers of cells lining the
- Outer surface of the body
- Luminal/inner surface of cavities, ducts

(2) as glands which actually originated from

invaginated epithelial cells (glandular
epithelium).
 GENERAL FEATURES OF LINING EPITHELIUM

Lines the surface of the body , cavities and tubular organs.

Cells are tightly bound together by junctional complexes such

as desmosomes

Epithelia display little intercellular space and little

extracellular matrix

The cells of the epithelium rests on the basement membrane.

The epithelium is avascular and is nourished by diffusion

from the underlying connective tissue.

Forms the glands by invagination

 Functions of epithelium
Protection of underlying tissues of the body from abrasion and
injury
Transcellular transport of molecules across the epithelial
layers.
Secretion of mucous, hormones, enzymes from various glands.

Absorption of material from the lumen (eg; intestinal tract or

certain kidney tubules).

Control of movement of materials between body

compartments via selective permeability

Detection of sensations
 CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM
Depending on the number of cell layers
epithelia are classified into:

Simple(single-layered) epithelia
stratified(multi-layered) epithelia

Depending on the shape of the cells they can be:

squamous
cuboidal
columnar
Simple Squamous epithelium
Flat cells, width is more than height
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Height and width is the same, like a square
simple Columnar Epithelium
Height is greater the width

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Stratified Squamous epithelium

Transitional Epithelium

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

stratified Columnar Epithelium(rare)

 Simple Squamous epithelium
Thin single layer of flat cells, width is more than the height

Nucleus is flat, seen as a bulge on the cell surface

Thin layer of cytoplasm

When seen from the surface it has polygonal outline

eg: alveolar epithelium of lungs

Function:
the simple squamous epithelium is for the diffusion
Simple Squamous epithelium
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM:
EG: CHEEK CELLS

A-NUCLEUS

B-CYTOPLASM

C-CELL
MEMBRANE
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EP. SURFACE VIEW
 simple cuboidal epithelium
Single layer, height and width the same

Centrally placed nucleus

Eg: germinal epithelium of ovary,

thyroid follicles,
inner surface of the lens,
(270). simple cuboidal epithelium (arrowheads). Also present Simple
squamous epithelium (arrows). Note the morphology of the cells and their
nuclei
SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EP.
Columnar epithelium
Rectangular in shape, height is more than width

Nucleus seen in the base of the cell

Based on presence or absence of specialized structures on its surface

Simple columnar epithelium
stomach and large intestine
Ciliated columnar epithelium
Respiratory tract, efferent duct of testis,
Microvillated (irregular) seen as Striated border type of columnar
epithelium
small intestine
Microvillated (regular) seen as Brush border type of columnar
epithelium
gall bladder
Secretory columnar cells(unicellular glands)
goblet cells
Columnar epithelium
Simple columnar epithelium (540). Observe the oblong nuclei (N) and
the striated border (arrows).
Pseudo stratified columnar epithelium

Single layer of cells with different heights

All the cells lie on the the basement membrane,

Cells of this epithelium are of different heights, their nuclei

are located at different levels, giving the impression of a
stratified epithelium even though it is composed of single layer
of cells.

Found in the, epididymis and large excretory ducts of glands

Trachea and bronchi
Pseudo stratified columnar epithelium
pseudostratified columnar epithelium (540): epithelium appears to be
stratified; however, all of the epithelial cells stand on the basal lamina (BL).
PSEUDOSTRATIFED CILIATED COLUMNAR EP.
 Stratified Squamous epithelium
Seen in areas where there is maximum friction
constantly replaced
thick, several layers of cells, only the deeper layer of cells are in
contact with the basal lamina.
Basal cells (deep) are cuboidal in shape,
intermediate (middle) layers the cells are polyhedral in shape.
superficial cells are flattened (Squamous)
Two types:

Non keratinized Stratified Squamous epithelium

lining of the mouth , oropharynx, esophagus,
true vocal folds, vagina and epiglottis.
Surface is usually wet.

Keratinized stratified Squamous epithelium

surface is dry and made up of dead cells
Skin
A. Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium (509). Observe the many
layers of cells and flattened (squamous) nucleated cells in the top layer (arrow).
B. Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium (125).
Stratified squamous epithelium - Nonkeratinised
Stratified squamous epithelium - keratinised
 Transitional epithelium
Multilayered

Deep layer cells are - cuboidal,

cells of Middle layers - polyhedral
surface cells - umbrella shaped or dome shaped

Seen in the ureter, urinary bladder, renal pelvis and

calyces and part of the urethra.
Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Eg: lining of the ducts of sweat glands

C. Stratified cuboidal epithelium of the duct of a sweat gland (CC) (509).
D. Transitional epithelium (125). Observe that the surface cells facing the lumen
are dome-shaped (arrows), which characterizes transitional epithelium.
 Stratified columnar epithelium
deep cells are Polyhedral to cuboidal in shape.
deep layer is in contact with the basal lamina
Superficial layer is of columnar cells.
Eg: conjunctiva of the eye, large excretory ducts of the glands
and regions of male urethra.
Glandular Epithelia
Definition:

GLANDS ARE THE-

structures which develop as invaginations from
epithelium lined surfaces.

specialized epithelial cells, arranged as

single or groups of cells, to perform the secretory
function.
 Glands

Unicellular glands
- consist of single, isolated glandular cells
such as the goblet cells.
- seen along with other non-secreting
epithelial cells
Eg. Intestinal epithelium
Multicellular glands
- are composed of clusters of cells
- develop as a diverticula from epithelial surface.
- distal part develops into the secretory part
- proximal part form the ducts which
opens into epithelial surface.
those glands which

pour their secretions on to the epithelial surface

through ducts are the EXOCRINE GLANDS

release their secretions directly into the blood are the

ENDOCRINE GLANDS OR DUCTLESS GLANDS
when the secretions of the exocrine gland are

Sent through one duct

Simple gland

Sometimes number of secreting glands, each group

with their own duct, and these ducts unite to form
larger duct which ultimately drain to epithelial surface

- Compound gland
simple and compound exocrine glands may
have secretory cells arranged in various forms:

Tubular
- straight, branched or coiled

Rounded acini

Flask shaped

Combination of the above

Based on this exocrine glands(multicellular)
can be classified as:

Simple tubular

Simple alveolar or acinar

Compound tubular

Compound alveolar

Compound tubulo-alveolar
goblet cell illustrating the tightly packed secretory granules of the theca
Unicellular gland

Multicellular gland
Simple tubular gland
Simple straight
tubular gland
Simple coiled tubular gland
Simple
branched
tubular gland
Simple branched
Saccular gland
Simple branched
Tubulo-acinar gland
cells of exocrine glands may exhibit three
different mechanisms for releasing their
secretory products :

holocrine

Merocrine

Apocrine
Modes of secretion: A, holocrine; B, merocrine; C, apocrine.
 Holocrine type
In holocrine gland, as the secretory cells mature,
whole cell disintegrates and becomes the
secretory product.

Eg: sebaceous gland

 Merocrine type
The cells remaining intact, secretions are thrown
out of the cells by the process of exocytosis
(neither cell membrane nor cytoplasm becomes
the part of the secretion). This type of secretion
is acrine or merocrine type.

Eg: most of the exocrine glands

 Apocrine type
In some glands the apical part of the cells are
shed off to discharge their secretion. This type of
secretion is called apocrine type.

Eg: axillary sweat glands and mammary

gland.
depending on the type of secretions exocrine
gland can be called as:

Mucous glands
(mucopolysaccharides, seen collect in the apex of
the cell so the nucleus is pushed to the base)

Serous glands
(protein in nature, cytoplasm granular,
nucleus is central)
 Mucous glands
Mucous glands secrete mucinogens, large glycosylated
proteins.

Examples of mucous glands include goblet cells and the

minor salivary glands of tongue and palate.

Mucous cells have basally located flattened nuclei and

apical accumulation of mucus-filled secretory granules
 serous glands and mixed glands
Serous glands such as pancreas,parotid secrete a
enzyme(protein) rich watery fluid.

Serous cells are truncated pyramid shaped with the

single round centrally located nuclei.

Mixed glands contain acini (secretory units) that produce

mucous secretions as well as acini that produce serous
secretions , In addition some of their mucous acini
possess serous demilunes(artefact), a group of cells that
secrete a serous fluid.

Example for mixed gland: submandibular salivary gland.

submandibular gland (540). M. mucous acini; S. serous demilunes