UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
BHARATHIDASAN INSTITUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
ANNA UNIVERSITY ,TIRUCHIRAPPALLI -24
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
CLASS SEMINAR
SUBJECT CODE/TITLE: BT3022/FUNDAMENTALS OF ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
SEMINAR TITLE
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
presented by Faculty in charge
Abirami R Dr. P. S. Sudhakar Gandhi
810022214037 Assistant Professor
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Epithelial tissue covers body surfaces and lines hollow organs, body cavities, and
ducts. It also forms glands, (Origin Ectoderm).
Epithelial tissues are tightly packed, creating a strong, continuous layer.
EPITHELIAL TISSUE CHARACTERISTIC
1. The cells are closely packed and are held tightly together by many cell junctions.
2. There is little intercellular space between adjacent plasma membranes.
3. It is never covered by another tissue, so it always has a free surface.
4. There are various surfaces- Apical surface of the epithelium faces the body surface or
body cavity and it may contain cilia or microvilli. The lateral surfaces of an epithelial cell
face the adjacent cells on either side. The basal surface of an epithelial cell is opposite the
apical surface, and the basal surfaces adhere to basement membrane.
5. The basement membrane is a thin extracellular that functions as a point of attachment and
support for the overlying epithelial tissue.
FUNCTION OF EPITHELIAL TISSUE
1. Protection
2. Absorption
3. Filtration
4. Secretion
TYPES OF EPITHELIAL TISSUE
Epithelial tissue is broadly classified into simple epithelium and stratified epithelium,
based on the number of cell layers.
1.Simple epithelium
Consists of a single layer of cells
Types of simple epithelium
a. Simple squamous epithelium
b. Simple cuboidal epithelium
c. Simple columnar epithelium
d. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Types of simple epithelium
a. Simple squamous epithelium
Description: Single layer of flat scale-shaped
cell. Its centrally located nucleus and sparse
cytoplasm and the simplest of the epithelia.
Location: Lines heart, blood vessels, lymphatic
vessels, air sacs of lungs,capsule of kidneys,
surface of the tympanic membrane (eardrum),
forms epithelial layer of serous membranes, such
as the peritoneum, pericardium, and pleura.
Function: Filtration, diffusion, osmosis, and
secretion in serous membranes
b. Simple cuboidal epithelium
Description: Single layer of cube-shaped cells.
Location: kidney tubules and glandular ducts.
Function: secretion and absorption.
c. Simple columnar epithelium
Description: This epithelium made up tall and pillar
shaped cells.
Location: stomach and intestines.
Function: Secretion and absorption
d. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Description: Not a true stratified tissue but it is
contrast to columnar epithelium, the
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium appears to Simple columnar epithelium
have multiple layers due to the irregular positioning
of nuclei (pseudo-false), but it is actually a single
layer of cells.
Location: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium lines the airways of most of upper
respiratory tract,pseudostratified non-ciliated
columnar epithelium lines larger ducts of many
glands, epididymis, and part of male urethra.
Function: Secretion and movement of mucus by ciliary action.
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
e. Ciliated columnar epithelium
Consists of neat, organized, tall cells, all of which have cilia on their surface. Found in the
trachea and bronchi, helping move mucus and trapped particles.
2. Stratified epithelium
Consists of multiple cell layers, providing greater protection.
Types of Stratified epithelium
a) Stratified squamous epithelium
Description: composed of multiple layers of cells. The basal layer (bottom layer) consists
of cuboidal or columnar cells that are actively dividing . The surface layer consists of
flattened, squamous cells which may be either keratinized (dead, filled with keratin) or non-
keratinized (living , moist cells found in areas like the mouth, esophagus).
Location: Keratinized variety forms superficial layer of skin,non-keratinized variety lines
wet surfaces, such as lining of the mouth, esophagus, vagina, and covers the tongue.
Function: Protects underlying tissues in areas subjected to abrasion.
b) Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Description: consists of two or mor layers of cube –
shaped cells. The cells in basal layer are generally
cuboidal or slightly columnar and act as the regenerative
layer. The surface layer is made up of cuboidal
cells ,which provide a protective barrier.
Location: Ducts of adult sweat glands, salivary gland,
mammary gland and part of male urethra.
Function: Protection and limited secretion and absorption.
c) Stratified columnar epithelium
Description: its composed Several layers of cells. The
basal layer consists of cuboidal or irregularly shaped cells.
The surface (apical ) layer is made up tall, columnar
cells.
Location: part of male urethra, large ducts of some glands
and conjunctiva of the eye.
Function: Protection and secretion
d. Translational epithelium
Description: Appearance is variable (transitional),
shape of cells in apical layer ranges from squamous
(when stretched) to cuboidal (when relaxed).
Location: Lines urinary bladder and portions of
ureters and urethra.
Function: Stretches readily and permits distension of
urinary organ by contained urine.
Glandular epithelium
Glandular epithelium Glandular epithelium is
composed of specialized epithelial cells that are
organized to produce and secrete substances such as
enzymes, hormones, mucus, and sweat. These cells
are often cuboidal or columnar in shape.
The cells are grouped together to form glands, which
can be either unicellular (single-cell glands, e.g..
goblet cells) or multicellular (complex structures
made up of many cells). Glandular epithelium
Multicellular glands may form tubular, alveolar (acinar), or tubuloalveolar structures,
depending on the shape of the secretory units.
Two types of glandular epithelial tissue :
the glandular epithelial tissue based on the number of cells present in it.
1. Unicellular glandular epithelial tissue
2. Multicellular glandular epithelial tissue
Glandular epithelium
REFERENCES
1. Kurn, Heidi; Daly, Daniel T. (2025), "Histology, Epithelial Cell", StatPearls,
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644489, retrieved 17 March
2025
2. Eurell JA, Frappier BL, eds. (2006). Dellmann's Textbook of Veterinary Histology.
Wiley-Blackwell. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7817-4148-4.
3. Freshney RI (2002). "Introduction". In Freshney RI, Freshney M (eds.). Culture of
epithelial cells. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-40121-6.
4. Marieb EM (1995). Human Anatomy and Physiology (3rd ed.).
Benjamin/Cummings. pp. 103-104. ISBN 0-8053-4281-8.
5. Platzer W (2008). Color atlas of human anatomy: Locomotor system. Thieme. p. 8.
ISBN 978-3-13-533306-9.
6. Kühnel W (2003). Color atlas of cytology, histology, and microscopic anatomy.
Thieme. p. 102. ISBN 978-3-13-562404-4.
7. Pratt R. "Simple Cuboidal Epithelium". AnatomyOne. Amirsys, Inc. Retrieved 28
September 2012.
