EPITHELIA

EMBRYOLOGIC ORIGIN
Epithelia are derived from all the 3 embryonic germ
layers that form the embryo:

ectoderm: epidermis, cornea and lens epithelia of the

eye, oral and nasal mucosae, glands of the skin,
mammary glands

endoderm: liver, pancreas, lining epithelium of the

respiratory and gastrointestinal tract (except the
oral and anal epithelia)

mesoderm: kidney tubules, lining of urinary and

reproductive tracts, epithelium enveloping the ovary,
serosa (mesothelium), blood and lymphatic vessels
epithelium (endothelium)
Three embryonic germ layers
 lining epithelia:
cells are tightly apposed
forming sheets

EPITHELIAL
TISSUES
glands or secreting epithelia:
cells tightly apposed forming
aggregates with different
morphology
EPITHELIA: general features

adjacent cells are closely apposed

cells are anchored to a basement membrane

specializations on the free edge (villi, cilia)

Baso-lateral intercellular junctions

avascular: they lack blood vessels

LINING EPITHELIA: functions
cover the external surface of the body
and line the internal cavities

allow metabolic exchanges (secretion,

absorption, gas exchanges)

protect from mechanical, physical, chemical

injuries

receive sensitive stimulation (sensitive

receptors)
CLASSIFICATION of LINING EPITHELIA
Each epithelial tissue is given two names:

-The first name indicates the number

of layers present, either simple (one)
or stratified (more than one).

-The second name describes the

shape of the cells.
CLASSIFICATION of LINING EPITHELIA
Simple or single layer epithelia
a) simple squamous
b) simple cuboidal
c) simple columnar

d) Pseudostratified (columnar)

Composed or stratified epithelia *

a) stratified squamous keratinized
b) stratified cuboidal non-keratinized
c) stratified columnar

d) transitional
* shape of the upper cells
LINING EPITHELIA: classification

simple
epithelium

stratified
epithelium

shape of the upper cells

Pseudostratified
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium contains cells
of varying heights giving the false impression of the
presence of many layers
Cell and tissue shapes are related to function

•Simple epithelia are mostly concerned

with absorption, secretion and filtration

Main function of stratified epithelia

is protection of the tissue/organ
Simple Squamous Epithelium
very close cells forming a single layer
with an elongated and flatten nucleus

epithelium of lung alveoli

Simple Squamous Epithelium
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
Single layer of flattened cells
Functions:
-allows the passage of material by diffusion and filtration
- may secrete lubricating substances

lung alveoli

lumen of blood and lymph

vessels (endothelium)

serosa (mesothelium)

Bowman capsule (kidney glomerulus)

Endothelium of blood vessel
Kidney glomerulus (Malpighi corpusculus)

Bowman capsule
SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

As a comparison:
squamous
 SIMPLE CUBOIDAL
EPITHELIUM
ovary surface

kidney tubules

gland ducts

kidney tubule terminal bronchioles

retina gland duct

SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
SIMPLE CUBOIDAL
EPITHELIUM

kidney tubule
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

As a comparison:
cuboid
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 SIMPLE COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
uterine tube
small bronchioles bronchi

small intestine

stomach

gallbladder

excretory ducts

intestine
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED EPITHELIUM

in the pseudostratified epithelium all the cells lay on the basal

lamina, but not all the cells reach the free edge

nuclei are therefore arrayed at variable heights, so the

epithelium gives the appearance of a stratified epithelium
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED EPITHELIUM
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED EPITHELIUM

mucosa of the airways

urethra
epididymis
ear canal
big excretory ducts of
glands
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
NON-KERATINIZED
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
NON-KERATINIZED

Oral cavity
Pharynx, Larynx
Esophagus
esophagus Cornea
Rectum mucosa
Vagina

oral mucosa
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
NON-KERATINIZED

superficial
layer

spinosum
layer

basal
layer
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS

NON-KERATINIZED

KERATINIZED
 STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
EPITHELIUM KERATINIZED

as a comparison:
non-keratinized
 STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
EPITHELIUM KERATINIZED

Skin
Gingival epithelium
Tongue
Nasal epithelium
STRATIFIED CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

big gland ducts

(sweat glands,
sebaceous glands,
exocrine pancreas)
 STRATIFIED COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM

larynx mucosa
male urethra
conjunctiva
big gland ducts
stratified columnar epithelium
CLASSIFICATION of LINING EPITHELIA

Simple or single layer epithelia

a) simple squamous
b) simple cuboidal
c) simple columnar

d) Pseudostratified (columnar)

Composed or stratified epithelia

a) stratified squamous keratinized
b) stratified cuboidal non-keratinized
c) stratified columnar

d) transitional
TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM
TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM

urinary tracts: renal pelvis, urether,

bladder, urethra
 TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM
• cells with different shape
• cell shape depends on the functional status of the organ

empty bladder dome-shaped cells

filled bladder
 empty bladder: dome-shaped cells bulge into the lumen
dome-shaped cells dome-shaped
cells distended

dome-shaped
cells
 TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM

binucleated
cells

epithelium

connective
tissue