Epithelial tissue

SHARON
 Despite its complexity, the organs of the human body
are composed of only four basic tissue types:
1. Epithelial Tissue
2. Connective Tissue
3. Muscular Tissue
4. Nervous Tissues.
 Each tissue is an assemblage of similarly specialized
cells united in performing a specific function.
 The basic tissues, each containing extracellular matrix
(ECM) as well as cells.
The four basic tissue types:
 EPITHELIAL TISSUE
 An epithelial tissue consists of similar cells
arranged in continuous sheets, in either single or
multiple layers.
 The cells are closely packed and are held tightly
together by many cell junctions; there is little
intercellular space between adjacent plasma
membranes.
 Epithelium covers the exterior body surfaces, lines
cavities,ducts and forms glands.
 DEVELOPMENT
EPITHELIUM IS DERIVED FROM 3 GERM LAYERS

 ECTODERM
 MESODERM
 ENDODERM

ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE EPITHELIA ARE DERIVED

FROM ECTODERM AND ENDODEREM
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EPITH. TISSUE
[Link] packed cells with minimal intercellular space.
[Link]
[Link] on a basement membrane (separates epithelium from
connective tissue).
[Link] – has:
o Apical surface: faces the lumen or external surface.
o Lateral surface: tight junctions, adherens junctions,
desmosomes, gap junctions
o Basal surface: attached to the basement membrane.
[Link] – characterized by high mitotic activity for repair and
tissue replacement.
FUNCTIONS OF THE EPITHELIAL TISSUE

 Protects (covering)
 Secretes (mucus, hormones, and enzymes),
 Absorbs (nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract),
 Excretes (various substances in the urinary tract).
 Sensations: taste buds, olfactory epithelium.
 CELL JUNCTIONS
 Cell junctions are contact points between the plasma
membranes of tissue cells, where cells are held together to
form tissues.
 There are five most important types of cell junctions:
 tight junctions,
 adherens junctions,
 desmosomes,
 hemidesmosomes and
 gap junctions .
Tight Junctions

 Tight junctions consist of web-like

strands of transmembrane proteins that
fuse together the outer surfaces of
adjacent plasma membranes to seal off
passageways between adjacent cells.
 Cells of epithelial tissue that line the
stomach,intestines, and urinary bladder
have many tight junctions.
 They inhibit the passage of substances
between cells and prevent the contents
of these organs from leaking into the
blood or surrounding tissues.
Adherens Junctions
 Adherens junctions contain plaque, a
dense layer of proteins on the inside
of the plasma membrane that attaches
both to membrane proteins and to
microfilaments of the cytoskeleton.
 Transmembrane glycoproteins called
cadherins join the cells.
 Each cadherin inserts into the plaque
from the opposite side of the plasma
membrane, partially crosses the
intercellular space and connects to a
cadherin of an adjacent cell.
Adherens Junctions conti….
 In epithelial cells, adherens
junctions often form extensive
zones called adhesion belts, as they
encircle the cell, much like a belt
encircles the waist.
 Adherens junctions help epithelial
surfaces resist separation during
various contractile activities, as
when food moves through the
intestines.
Desmosomes
 Like adherens junctions, desmosomes
contain plaques and have transmembrane
glycoproteins (cadherins) that extend into the
intercellular space between adjacent cell
membranes, attaching cells.
 Unlike adherens junctions, the plaque of
desmosomes does not attach to
microfilaments. Instead, a desmosome plaque
attaches to elements of the cytoskeleton
known as intermediate filaments, which
consist of the protein keratin.
Desmosomes conti……
 The intermediate filaments extend from
desmosomes on one side of the cell across the
cytosol to desmosomes on the opposite side of
the cell.
 This structural arrangement contributes to the
stability of the cells and tissues. These spot-
weld-like junctions are common among the
cells that make up the epidermis (the outermost
layer of the skin) and among cardiac muscle
cells in the heart.
 Desmosomes prevent epidermal cells from
separating under tension and cardiac muscle
cells from pulling apart during contraction.
Hemidesmosomes
 Hemidesmosomes resemble desmosomes, but
they do not link adjacent cells. The name arises
from the fact that they look like half of a
desmosome.
 The transmembrane glycoproteins in
hemidesmosomes are integrins rather than
cadherins.
 On the inside of the plasma membrane, integrins attach to
intermediate filaments made of the protein keratin.
 On the outside of the plasma membrane, the integrins attach to the
protein laminin, which is present in the basement membrane.
 Thus, hemidesmosomes anchor cells not to each other but to the
basement membrane.
Gap Junctions
 At gap junctions, membrane proteins called connexins
form tiny fluid-filled tunnels called connexons that
Connect neighboring cells.
 Unlike the fused plasma membranes of tight junctions,
The plasma membranes of gap junctions are separated
by a very narrow intercellular gap (space).
 Through the connexons, ions and small molecules can diffuse from
the cytosol of one cell to another, But the passage of large molecules
such as vital intracellular proteins is prevented.
 The transfer of nutrients, and perhaps wastes, takes place through gap
junctions in avascular tissues such as the lens and cornea of the eye.
 Gap junctions allow the cells in a tissue to communicate with one
another.
surfaces of the epithelial cells
1. The apical surface - an epithelial cell faces the body surface,a body cavity,
the lumen (interior of an internal organ, or a tubular duct that receives cell
secretions) Apical surfaces may contain cilia or microvilli.
2. The lateral surfaces of an epithelial cell, which face the adjacent cells on
either side, may contain tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes,
and/or gap junctions.
3. The basal surface of an epithelial cell is opposite the apical surface. The
basal surfaces of the deepest layer of epithelial cells adhere to extracellular
materials such as the basement membrane( a thin extracellular layer that
commonly consists of two layers, the basal lamina and reticular lamina.)
4. . Hemidesmosomes in the basal surfaces of the deepest layer of epithelial
cells anchor the epithelium to the basement membrane.
 Exchange of substances between an epithelial tissue and
connective tissue occurs by diffusion.
 Because epithelial tissue forms boundaries between the
body’s organs, or between the body and the external
environment, it is repeatedly subjected to physical stress
and injury.
 A high rate of cell division allows epithelial tissue to
constantly renew and repair itself by sloughing off dead or
injured cells and replacing them with new ones.
TWO TYPES OF EPITHELIUM.

(1) Surface epithelium (covering and lining epithelium)

 consists of a continuous sheet of one or more layers of cells that
form the outer covering of the skin and some internal organs.
 It also forms the inner lining of blood vessels, ducts, body
cavities, and the interior of the respiratory, digestive, urinary,
and reproductive systems.
(2) Glandular epithelium
 which consists of epithelial cells and makes up the secreting
portion of glands such as the thyroid gland, adrenal glands,
sweat glands, and digestive glands.
 Classification of Surface Epithelium
1. The number of layers
2. The shapes of the cells.

NUMBER OF LAYERS
a. Simple epithelium
b. Stratified epithelium
c. Pseudostratified epithelium

ACCORDING TO CELL SHAPES

a. Squamous cells
b. Cuboidal cells
c. Columnar cells
If you combine the two characteristics (number of
layers and cell shapes), you get the following types
of surface epithelia:
I. Simple epithelium
A. Simple squamous epithelium
1. Endothelium (lines the heart, blood
vessels, and lymphatic vessels)
2. Mesothelium (forms the epithelial layer
of serous membranes)
Function: Present at sites where the processes of
filtration (such as blood filtration in the kidneys),
diffusion (such as diffusion of oxygen into
blood vessels of the lungs), and secretion (in the
serous membrane) occur.
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
 B. Simple cuboidal epithelium
• Single layer of cube-shaped cells with
round, centrally located nucleus.
• Location: Covers surface of ovary,
lines anterior surface of capsule of the
lens of the eye, forms the pigmented
epithelium at the posterior surface of
the retina of the eye, lines kidney
tubules and smaller ducts of many
glands, and makes up the secretory
portion of some glands such as the
thyroid gland and the ducts of some
glands such as the pancreas.
• Function: Secretion and absorption.
 C .Simple columnar epithelium
1. Nonciliated (lacks cilia)
• Single layer of nonciliated column-like
cells with oval nuclei near base of cells;
contains two types of cells—columnar
epithelial cells with microvilli at their
apical surface, and goblet cells.
• Goblet cells are modified columnar
epithelial cells that secrete mucus, a
slightly sticky fluid, at their apical
surfaces.
• Location: Lines the gastrointestinal tract
(from the stomach to the anus), ducts of
many glands, and gallbladder.
Function:
• Secretion and absorption
• Secreted mucus serves as a
lubricant for the linings of
the digestive, respiratory, and
reproductive tracts, and most
of the urinary tract.
• Mucus also helps prevent
destruction of the stomach
lining by acidic gastric juice
secreted by the stomach.
CILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
• Single layer of ciliated column-like cells with oval nuclei near the
base of the cells.
• Location: Lines some bronchioles (small tubes) of the respiratory
tract, uterine (fallopian) tubes, uterus, some paranasal sinuses,
central canal of the spinal cord, and ventricles of the brain.
• Function: The cilia beat in unison, moving the mucus and any
foreign particles toward the throat, where they can be coughed up
and swallowed or spit out. Coughing and sneezing speed up the
movement of cilia and mucus. Cilia also help move oocytes expelled
from the ovaries through the uterine (fallopian) tubes into the uterus .
 D. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
1. Nonciliated (lacks cilia)
 Appears to have several layers because
The nuclei of the cells are at various levels.
 Even though all the cells are attached to
The basement membrane is in a single
layer. Some cells do not extend to the
apical surface.
 Contains cells without cilia and also lacks
goblet cells.
 Location: Lines epididymis, the larger ducts of many glands such
as the parotid glands, and parts of the male urethra.
 Function: Absorption and secretion.
CILIATED PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 Appears to have several layers because the nuclei of the cells are at various
levels.
 Contains cells that extend to the surface and either secrete mucus (goblet
cells) or bear cilia.
 Location: Lines the airways of most of the upper respiratory tract.
 Function: Secretes mucus that traps foreign particles, and the cilia sweep
away the mucus for eventual elimination from the body.
II. STRATIFIED EPITHELIUM

A. Stratified squamous epithelium*

1. Nonkeratinized (lacks keratin)
2. Keratinized (contains keratin)
B. Stratified cuboidal epithelium*
C. Stratified columnar epithelium*
D. Transitional epithelium or urothelium
(lines most of urinary tract)
A. Stratified squamous epithelium*
 Consists of two or more layers of cells; cells
in the apical layer and several layers deep to
it are squamous and cells in the deeper
layers vary from cuboidal to columnar.
 Stratified squamous epithelium exists in
both keratinized and nonkeratinized forms.
 Keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium develops a tough layer of keratin
in the apical layer of cells and several cell
layers deep to it.
 Keratin is a tough, fibrous intracellular
protein that helps protect the skin and
underlying tissues from heat, microbes, and
chemicals.
Nonkeratinized stratified squamous
 epithelium does not contain large amounts of
keratin in the apical layer and several layers
deep to it and is constantly moistened by
mucus secreted from salivary and mucous
glands.
 Location: Keratinized variety forms superficial
layer of skin; nonkeratinized variety lines wet
surfaces, such as lining of the mouth,
esophagus, part of epiglottis, part of pharynx,
and vagina, and covers the tongue.
 Function: Protection against abrasion, water
loss, ultraviolet radiation, and foreign invasion.
Stratified cuboidal epithelium
• Two or more layers of cells in which the cells in the apical layer are
cube-shaped.
• This is a fairly rare type of epithelium.
• Location: Ducts of adult sweat glands and esophageal glands and
part of male urethra.
• Function: Protection and limited secretion and absorption.
 STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 Usually the basal layers consist of shortened, irregularly shaped cells; only
the apical layer has cells that are columnar in shape.
 Like stratified cuboidal epithelium, stratified columnar epithelium also is
uncommon.
 Location: Lines part of urethra, large excretory ducts of some glands, such
as esophageal glands, small areas in anal mucous membrane, and part of the
conjunctiva of the eye.
 Function: Protection and secretion.
TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM (UROTHELIUM)
• Appearance is variable (transitional). In its relaxed or unstretched
state, transitional epithelium looks like stratified cuboidal epithelium.
• As the tissue is stretched, its cells become flatter, giving the
appearance of stratified squamous epithelium.
• Because of its multiple layers and elasticity, it is ideal for lining
hollow structures (such as the urinary bladder) that are subject to
expansion from within.
• Location: Lines the urinary bladder and portions of the ureters and
urethra.
• Function: It allows the urinary organs to stretch to hold a variable
amount of fluid without rupturing, while still serving as a protective
lining.
TRANSITIONAL
EPITHELIUM
Glandular Epithelium
 The function of glandular epithelium is secretion.
 A gland consists of epithelium that secrete substances
via ducts (tubes) onto a surface, or eventually into the
blood in the absence of ducts.
 All glands of the body are classified as either endocrine
or exocrine.
 The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are examples of
endocrine glands.
 Endocrine secretions have far-reaching effects because
they are distributed throughout the body by the
bloodstream.
 Exocrine glands secrete their products into ducts that
empty onto the surface of a covering or lining
epithelium such as the skin surface or the lumen of a
hollow organ.
 Examples of exocrine glands include sudoriferous
(sweat) glands, which produce sweat to help lower
body temperature, and salivary glands,which secrete
saliva.
 Saliva contains mucus and digestive enzymes among
other substances.
STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION OF EXOCRINE
GLANDS
 Exocrine glands are classified as unicellular or multicellular.
 Goblet cells are important unicellular exocrine glands that
secrete mucus directly onto the apical surface of a lining
epithelium.
 Most exocrine glands are multicellular glands, composed of
many cells that form a distinctive microscopic structure or
macroscopic organ. Eg sudoriferous, sebaceous (oil), and
salivary glands.
 Multicellular glands are categorized according to two
criteria:
(1) whether their ducts are branched or unbranched and
(2) the shape of the secretory portions of the gland .
 If the duct of the gland does not branch, it is a simple
gland.
 If the duct branches it is a compound gland
 Glands with tubular secretory parts are tubular glands;
those with rounded secretory portions are acinar glands.
 Tubulo acinar glands have both tubular and acinar
secretory parts.
 Combinations of these features are the criteria for the
structural classification for multicellular exocrine glands:
I. Simple glands
A. Simple tubular.
Tubular secretory part is straight and
attaches to a single unbranched duct.
Example: glands in the large intestine .
[Link] branched tubular.
Tubular secretory part is
branched and attaches to a single
unbranched duct.
Example: gastric glands.
C. Simple coiled tubular.
Tubular secretory part is coiled
and attaches to a single unbranched
duct. Example: sweat glands.
D. Simple acinar.
Secretory portion is rounded
and attaches to a single
unbranched duct.
Example: glands of the
penile urethra.

E. Simple branched
acinar. Rounded secretory
part is branched and
attaches to a single
unbranched duct.
Example: sebaceous
glands.
II. Compound glands
A. Compound tubular. Secretory portion is
tubular and attaches to a branched duct.
Example: bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands.

B. Compound acinar. Secretory portion is

rounded and attaches to a branched duct.
Example: mammary glands.

C. Compound tubule acinar. Secretory

portion is both tubular and rounded and
attaches to a branched duct.
Example: acinar glands of the pancreas.
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
• The secretions, called hormones, made by endocrine glands enter the interstitial
fluid and then diffuse directly into the bloodstream without flowing through a
duct.
• Location: Examples include pituitary gland at base of brain, pineal gland in
brain, thyroid and parathyroid glands near larynx (voice box), adrenal glands
superior to kidneys, pancreas near stomach, ovaries in pelvic cavity, testes in
scrotum, and thymus in thoracic cavity.
• Function: Hormones regulate many metabolic and physiological activities to maintain
homeostasis.
B. EXOCRINE GLANDS
• Secretory products released into ducts that empty onto the surface of a
covering and lining epithelium such as the skin surface or the lumen of a
hollow organ.
• Location: Sweat, oil, and earwax glands of the skin; digestive glands such as
salivary glands, which secrete into mouth cavity, and pancreas, which
secretes into the small intestine.
• Function: Produce substances such as sweat (to help lower body temperature), oil,
earwax, saliva, or digestive enzymes.
MEDICAL APPLICATION
[Link] sebaceous glands are the primary structure involved in the
common form of acne, acne vulgaris.

[Link] benign and malignant tumors can arise from most types of
epithelial cells.
 Malignant tumors of epithelial origin are called carcinomas.
 Malignant tumors derived from glandular epithelial tissue are called
adenocarcinomas .
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