Epithelial Tissue

Ma. Minda Luz M. Manuguid, M.D.

Epithelia: General Considerations

 Epithelium is avascular tissue composed of

cells that cover the exterior surfaces of the
body and line both internal closed cavities
and body tubes that communicate with the
exterior (the alimentary, respiratory, and
gastrointestinal tract).
 Epithelia form the receptors of certain
sensory organs.
 Epithelia form the secretory portions (or
parenchyma) of glands and their ducts
(a.k.a. glandular epithelium or exocrine
glands).
Functions of Epithelia
 Mechanical barrier  Skin
 Permeability  Blood – brain
barrier barrier
 Absorption  GIT mucosa
 Filtration  Glomerulus
 Secretion  Exocrine glands
 Sensory receptors  Retina, Olfactory
epithelium
Epithelial Tissue General Features

 Epithelial tissue lines body

surfaces
 Avascular; dependent on
underlying connective tisssue for
oxygenation & nutrition
 Cells are polarized, with apical
& basal poles
 Cells lie on a basement
Epithelial Tissue Classification

Classification / Nomenclature depends

on
A. number of cell layers :
1. simple- single layer of epithelial
cells
2. stratified- two or more cell layers
B. morphology of epithelial cells:
1. squamous- flattened, plate-like
cells with central round to
ovoid nuclei
2. cuboidal- cube-like, width more or
less equal to height
 Simple Squamous
Epithelium
 Simple Squamous
Epithelium- single
layer of squamous cells:
endothelium- lines the
inner surface of the
circulatory system;
mesothelium- lines
outer/inner surfaces of
membranes enclosing
visceral organs, e.g.
pleura of the lungs,
pericardium of the
Simple Squamous
Epithelium

Other sites :
 alveolar sacs

 outer surface

of gallbladder,
stomach,
uterus,
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
 Simple
Cuboidal
Epithelium-
single layer of
cuboidal cells
lining
o Thyroid
follicles
o Renal
tubules
Simple Columnar
Epithelium
 Simple
Columnar
Epithelium-
single layer of
columnar cells
lining
o Alimentary
tract
o Endometrium
o Endocervix
Simple columnar epithelium
Pseudostratified Columnar
Epithelium

 Pseudostratified
Columnar
Epithelium- single
layer of very tall
columnar cells, the
nuclei of which are
oriented at different
levels, giving the
appearance of
stratification;
o Ciliated- lines the
Pseudostratified Columnar Ciliated
 Transitional Epithelium
 Transitional
Epithelium or
Urothelium- true
stratified epithelium
with variable number
of cell layers,
depending on the
status of the organ
being lined; less
number of layers when
organ is distended;
exclusive to the urinary
tract:
o Ureter
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
 Stratified Squamous Epithelium –
several layers of squamous cells, the
uppermost layer composed of flattened
cells; further subclassified based on the
presence/absence of keratin, into:
o Keratinizing “Dry” Stratified Squamous
epithelium- lining body surfaces that open
directly to the outside, or are subject to
irritation /abrasion
o Non-keratinizing “Moist” Stratified
Squamous epithelium- lining body surfaces
that do not communicate directly with the
Stratified Squamous Epithelium,
Keratinized
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
 Stratified
Cuboidal
Epithelium-
uppermost layer
is composed of
cuboidal cells;
rare in the human
body; found in
o small parts of the
sweat gland
ducts
o some parts of
salivary glands
o in the
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
Stratified Columnar Epithelium
 Stratified Columnar
Epithelium-
uppermost layer is
composed of
columnar cells;
rare in the human
body; found only in
 the conjunctiva
 some parts of the
salivary glands
 parts of the male
urethra
 Special Epithelia
 Special Epithelia are those that
cannot be included in any of the
categories previously discussed
 Ovarian/Graafian follicle
 Seminiferous tubule
 Chorionic villi of the Placenta
Special Epithelia
Glandular Epithelium
 Simple tubular
 Simple coiled tubular
 Simple branched tubular
 Simple acinar
 Simple tubulo-acinar
 Compound tubular
 Compound acinar
 Compound tubulo-acinar
Glandular Epithelium
 Simple tubular glands - These glands
are epithelial-lined tubules, which open on
the apical surface. There are three types.
 Simple straight tubular glands - crypts of
Lieberkühn, located within the small
intestines, run a straight, unbranched course.
 Simple coiled tubular glands - within the
dermis, eccrine sweat glands
 Simple branched tubular glands - found in
the stomach, esophagus, oral cavity, tongue,
uterus
Simple tubular glands:
straight, coiled, & branched
Glandular Epithelium

 Simple alveolar (acinar) glands –

several acini attached to a single duct:
paraurethral glands in the penile urethra,
sebaceous glands in the skin, Meibomian
glands (eyelids)
 Simple tubular-alveolar glands - some
of the secretory cells are arranged as
acini (alveoli) and others are arranged as
tubules: some of the smaller glands of the
respiratory tract; minor mucous salivary
glands within the oral cavity,
Simple alveolar &
tubuloalveolar
Glandular Epithelium
 Compound tubular glands - have a
highly branched duct system. The
secretory cells at the ends of the ducts are
in the form of tubules. Brunner’s glands of
the duodenum
 Compound alveolar glands - similar to
the compound tubular and compound
tubulo-alveolar glands but the ducts end in
alveoli with dilated sac-like lumina:
exocrine pancreas and parotid glands
 Compound tubulo-alveolar glands –
glands that also have a highly branched
 Compound glands

Compound tubular Compound tubulo-alveolar

(Brunner’s) glands
Modifications in Epithelial Cells
 Microvilli – outward
cylindrical folds of the
apical membrane that
markedly increase
surface area; primarily
specialized for
absorption although,
since they contain
actin filaments, some
movement (extension
and contraction) may
occur: renal PCT
(“brush border”)
 Stereocilia – long,
large microvilli : male
reproductive tract;
Apical Modifications
 Cilia – multiple
short motile hair-
like organelles that
can move in one
plane only; the
beating motion is
designed for
moving fluids along
the surface, but
some absorption
may occur:
respiratory tract
Epithelial Cell Modifications
 Junctional complex –
Terminal bar: zonulae occludens &adherens
 Zonula occludens – encircles the entire

cell (permeability barrier) near the apex

 Zonula adherens – “intercellular glue” –

also encircles entire cell; just below the z

occludens
 By light microscopy the junctional
complex is seen as a dot and is called
the terminal bar. It is resolved into at
least 3 components by electron
microscopy, the zonula occludens that
provides a seal and for physical
attachment the zonula adherens and
macula adherens.
 The basement membrane is a layer of
extracellular matrix as seen with the
light microscope. It consists of at least
two regions that are identifiable with
Basal modifications
 Basement membrane – structure on which
epithelial cells rest – structure depends on
location & function of epithelia: thin in
capillaries, thick in the trachea, thick &
rugged in the epidermis; laminin,
proteoglycans, highly glycosylated type IV
collagen
 Basal lamina – amorphous; made by epithelial
cells
 Reticular lamina – fibrous; made by connective
tissue cells
 Hemidesmosome – anchors the epithelial
Epithelial Cell Modifications
 Hemidesmosome
 Basement membrane
 Basal lamina – type IV collagen, heparan sulfate,
fibronectin and laminin. It is usually separated
from the epithelium by an electron clear band
(lamina rara) thought to be bridged by laminin
and fibronectin. These molecules have sites that
bind more or less tightly to collagen, heparan
and integrins that span the cell membrane.
 Reticular lamina – a rather thick layer of reticular
fibers (type III collagen) in an amorphous matrix.
It is produced by the connective tissue and is
argyrophilic
Epithelial Regeneration
 Stem cells – undifferentiated, capable
of mitosis – located at the basal
portions of epithelium, produce
daughter cells that move toward the
apex
 Stratified squamous epithelium of the
epidermis – stem cells in the stratum
basale/germinativum
 Simple columnar Intestinal epithelium
– stem cells at the base of intestinal
Thank You for your Kind Attention!