EPITHELIAL TISSUES

Dr Nyango Philip Bulus

Department of Human Anatomy
Faculty of Basic Medical Science
College of Health Sciences
University of Jos.
OUTLINE
Introduction
Major Features/Characteristics
Function
Classification
Simple Epithelium
Stratified Epithelium
Other Covering Epithelium
Glandular Epithelium
Clinical Correlates
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

There are four basic tissues in the

body:
Epithelial
Connective
Muscular
Nervous
…INTRODUCTION
The outer surface of the body and the luminal
surfaces of cavities within the body are lined by
one or more layers of cells that completely cover
them . S uch layers of cells are called
epithelia(singular=epithelium).
Org ans are e i the r Hollow o r Compact and
epithelia are integral to the lining or covering of
these organ variants.
Epithelia also line the duc ts and sec retory
elements of glands (which develop as
outgrowths from epithelium lined surfaces).
MAJOR FEATURES/CHARACTERISTICS

Classification is based on:

 Number of cell layers: simple or stratified
 Cell morphology: squamous, cuboidal, columnar
Basement membrane
 Separates epithelium from connective tissue
All epithelia are Nonvascular
 Delivery of nutrients to cell/ removal of metabolic waste
occurs via diffusion from adjacent capillaries
MAJOR FEATURES/CHARACTERISTICS
Surface modifications include
 Motile cilia
 Microvilli
 Stereocilia
Lateral cell surface modification includes
 Zonulae occludentes,
 Zonulae adherens,
 Desmosomes,
 Gap junctions, and
 Hemidesmosomes basally
FUNCTIONS
…FUNCTIONS
CLASSIFICATION
SIMPLE -SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

Single layer of flat or squamous cells includes:
 Mesothelium and Endothelium
Mesothelium lines external surfaces of :
 Digestive organs, Lung, Heart
Endothelium lines inside of:
 Heart chambers, Blood vessels, Lymphatic vessels
Functions in:
 Filtration, Diffusion, Transport
 Secretion, Reduction of friction
…Simple -Squamous Epithelium

…SIMPLE -SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

…Simple -Squamous Epithelium

…Simple -Squamous Epithelium

SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

Single layer of round cells
Lines small ducts and kidney tubules
Protects ducts
Transports and absorbs filtered material in kidney tubules
SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

All cells are tall
Some are lined by microvilli
Lines the lumina of digestive organs
Secretes protective mucus for stomach lining
Absorption of nutrients in small intestine
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
Epithelium With Cilia or Stereocilia
All cells reach basement membrane, not all reach surface
Ciliated cells interspersed mucus-secreting goblet cells
In respiratory passages:
 Ciliated and mucus cells clean inspired air
 Transport particulate matter across cell surfaces
In uterine tubes and the efferent ducts of testes:
 Ciliated cells transport oocytes and sperm across cell
surfaces
In the epididymis and vas deferens
 Lining stereocilia absorb testicular fluid
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
STRATIFIED EPITHELIUM

Formed by multiple layers of cells
 Superficial cell layer determining epithelial type
Nonkeratinized squamous epithelium contains
 live superficial cell layer
 forms moist and protective layer in
esophagus, vagina, anal canal, oral cavity
Keratinized epithelium contains
 dead superficial cell layer
 provides protection against abrasion
 bacterial invasion, and desiccation
Cuboidal epithelium lines
 large excretory ducts in different organs
 provides protection for the ducts
Stratified columnar epithelium
 Rare but present in small areas, such as the ocular conjunctiva and
the large ducts of salivary glands
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
Found primarily in places subject to attrition (skin, mouth,
esophagus, vagina).
Its cells form many layers, and the cells closer to the
underlying connective tissue are usually cuboidal or columnar.
As they move progressively closer to the surface the cells
become irregular in shape and flatten, becoming very thin and
squamous.
 Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium covers dry surfaces
such as the skin. The most superficial cells of keratinized epithelia
involute and are transformed into dead scales of protein without
discernible nuclei
 Nonkeratinized epithelium, which covers wet surfaces,
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

Found at sweat glands, developing ovarian follicles.
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM

Found exclusively in
 renal calyces, renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder
Changes shape in response to
 distensions caused by fluid accumulation
During extension or contraction;
 cell-to-cell contact remains unbroken
Forms protective osmotic barrier
 between hypertonic urine and underlying tissue
Transitional Epithelium

Transitional Epithelium

OTHER EPITHELIUM

Two other types of epithelium exsist.

 Neuroepithelial cells are cells of epithelial origin with specialized
sensory functions (eg, cells of taste buds and of the olfactory
mucosa).
 Myoepithelial cells are branched cells that contain myosin and a
large number of actin filaments. They are specialized for
contraction, mainly of the secretory units of the mammary, sweat,
and salivary glands.
GLANDULAR EPITHELIA
Glandular epithelia are formed by cells specialized to
produce secretion. The molecules to be secreted are
generally stored in the cells in small membrane-bound
vesicles called secretory granules.
Glandular epithelial cells may synthesize, store, and
secrete proteins (eg, pancreas), lipids (eg, adrenal,
sebaceous glands), or complexes of carbohydrates and
proteins (eg, salivary glands). The mammary glands
secrete all three substances.
Less common are the cells of glands that have low
synthesizing activity (eg, sweat glands) and that secrete
mostly substances transferred from the blood to the
lumen of the gland.
GLANDULAR EPITHELIA(TYPES)
The epithelia that form the glands of the body can be
classified according to various criteria.
Unicellular glands consist of isolated glandular cells, and
multicellular glands are composed of clusters of cells.
 An example of a unicellular gland is the goblet cell of the lining of
the small intestine or of the respiratory tract.
 The term "gland," however, is usually used to designate large,
complex aggregates of glandular epithelial cells, such as in the
salivary glands and the pancreas.
GLANDS

Glands arise during fetal life from covering epithelia by

means of proliferation and invasion of the epithelial cells into
the subjacent connective tissue, followed by further
differentiation .
 Exocrine (Gr. exo, outside, + krinein, to separate) glands retain their
connection with the surface epithelium from which they originated.
This connection is transformed into tubular ducts lined with
epithelial cells through which the glandular secretions pass to
reach the surface.
 Endocrine (Gr. endon, within, + krinein) glands are glands whose
connection with the surface is lost during development. These
glands are therefore ductless, and their secretions are picked up
and transported to their site of action by the bloodstream rather
than by a duct system.
GLANDULAR EPITHELIAL TISSUE
GLANDULAR EPITHELIAL TISSUE
 THANK YOU
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