Epithelial Tissues
Reticular lamina contains type III collagen
Common Types of Covering Epithelia and anchoring fibrils of VII collagen, all
secreted by cells of the immediately
Functional Epithelium adjacent connective tissue
Epithelia line all external and internal These components attach epithelia to
surfaces of the body and all substances that connective tissue, regulate (filter)
enter or leave an organ must cross this type substances passing from connective tissue
of tissue into epithelia, provide a guide or scaffold
during tissue regeneration after injury, and
Principal Functions: compartmentalize epithelial cells from other
tissues.
Covering, lining, and protecting surfaces
(epidermis) Intercellular Junctions
Absorption (the intestinal lining) Intercellular junctions are well developed in
epithelia and consist of three major types,
➤ Secretion (parenchymal cells of glands) with different functions:
Characteristics: Tight or Occluding Junctions are formed by
interacting transmembrane proteins such as
Consist of contagious cells in apposition claudin and occludin; linear arrangements of
(positioning of things or the condition of these linked. proteins surround the apical
being side by side close together) over a ends of the cells and prevent paracellular
large portion of their surface passage of substances (between the cells)
Cells rest on a continuous extracellular layer Adherent or Anchoring Junctions, formed by
(basal lamina) interacting proteins of cadherin family, are
points of strong attachment holding together
Avascularity: absence of blood vessels cells of the epithelium
among cells
Form zonula adherens that encircle
Cells are arranged in layers or sheets epithelial cells just below their tight junctions
or scattered, spot-like attachment sites
Basement Membranes called desmosomes or maculae adherens,
both of which are attached to cytoplasmic
The basement membranes of all epithelia keratins
are a thin extracellular layer of specialized
proteins, usually having two parts: Hemidesmosomes composed of
transmembrane integrins attach cells to
Basal lamina is a thin meshwork of type IV proteins of the basal lamina
collagen and laminin produced by the
epithelial cells
Gap or Communicating Junctions are points Cells of stratified squamous epithelia move
of cell contact where both plasma gradually from the basal to the surface
membranes have numerous hexameric layers, changing shape and becoming filled
complexes of transmembrane connexons with keratin intermediate filaments
each forming a channel allowing a passage
of small molecules from one cell to the other Stratified squamous epithelia such as the
epidermis cover the body surface,
Apical Structures of Epithelial Cells protecting underlying tissues from excess
water loss (dehydration) and microbial
Microvilli- Are small membrane projections invasion
with cores of actin filaments that generally
function to increase epithelial cells apical Keratin - Impregnate squamous cells
surface area for absorption
Keratinized and Cornified- Protection and
Stereocilia- Are long microvilli with prevents water loss
specialized mechanosensory function in
cells of the inner ear and for absorption in Pseudostratified Epithelia
tissues of the male reproductive tract Are thick and appear to have several cell
layers; all cells attach to the basal lamina
Cilla-Transport materials to propel along but not all extend to the free epithelial
epithelial cells surface
Are large projecting structures with a Transitional Epithelium or Urothelium
well-organized core of microtubules Found only in the lining of the urinary
(arrangement called the axoneme) in which system, is stratified, with large rounder
restricted, dynein-based sliding of surface cells protective against urine
microtubules causes ciliary movement that
propel material along an epithelial surface Common Types of Covering Epithelia
Morphological Types of Epithelia Simple (One Layer of Cells)
An epithelium in which the basement Squamous
membrane has one cell layer is simple; the
cells of different simple epithelia range Examples of Distribution:
widely in height, from very thin or
squamous, to roughly cuboidal, to very tall ● Lining of vessels (endothelium)
or columnar
● Serous lining of cavities
Epithelia with two or ore layers of cells are
stratified and almost all such epithelia are ● Pericardium, Pleura, Peritoneum
stratified squamous, in which the outer cell (mesothelium)
layers are thin and flattened
Facilitates the movement of the viscera
(mesothelium), active transport by
pinocytosis (mesothelium and endothelium), ● Vagina
secretion of biologically active molecules
(mesothelium) ● Anal canal
Cuboidal Protection, secretion, prevents water loss
Examples of Distribution: Cuboidal
● Covering the ovary
Examples of Distribution:
● Thyroid
● Sweat glands
● Covering, secretion
● Developing ovarian follicles
Columnar
● Protection and secretion
Examples of Distribution:
Transitional
● Lining of intestine
Examples of Distribution:
● Gallbladder
● Bladder
● Protection, lubrication, absorption
and secretion ● Ureters
Stratified (two or more layers of cells) ● Renal calyces
Squamous Keratinized (dry) ● Protection and distensibility
Examples of Distribution: Columnar
● Epidermis Examples of Distribution:
● Protection, prevents water loss ● Conjunctiva
Squamous Nonkeratinized (moist) ● Protection
Examples of Distribution: Pseudostratified (layers of cells with nuclei
at different levels; not all cells reach surface
● Mouth but all adhere to basal lamina)
● Esophagus Examples of Distribution:
● Larynx ● Lining of the trachea
● Bronchi substances
● Nasal cavity Water and Electrolytes (ions): sweat glands
Protection, secretion; cilia-mediated Glands have three basic secretory
transport of particles trapped in mucus out mechanisms: merocrine, which uses
of the air passages exocytosis, holocrine, in which terminally
differentiated cells filled with lipid product
Mesothelium - Serous lining of cavities such are released; and apocrine, in which apical,
as pericardium, pleura, peritoneum for product-filled areas of cells are
lubrication
extruded
Endothelium-Made up of flat cells that lines
the blood vessels Merocrine
Myoepithelium-Basket cells, to remodel the Secretion releases products, usually
scars in the skin containing proteins, by means of exocytosis
at the apical end of the secretory cells. Most
Endometrium - Lining of the uterus exocrine glands are merocrine
Germinal Epithelium - Layer of the ovaries Holocrine
and seminiferous tubules
Secretion is produced by the disintegration
Glandular Epithelium - For secretions of the secretory cells themselves as they
complete their terminal differentiation, which
Epithelial Secretion involves becoming filled with product.
Sebaceous glands of hair follicles are the
The major function in many epithelial cells is best examples of holocrine glands
synthesis and secretion of specialized
products; organs composed primarily of → Apocrine
such epithelia are called glands
Secretion involves loss of
Secretory cells may synthesize, store, and membrane-enclosed apical cytoplasm,
release the following: usually containing one or more lipid
droplets. Apocrine secretion, along with
Proteins: Pancreas merocrine secretion, is seen in mammary
glands
Lipids: Adrenal sebaceous glands
Exocrine Glands
Carbohydrates and Proteins: salivary glands
Epithelial Glands
**Epithelia of Mammary glands secrete all
three Remain connected with the surface
epithelium, the connection forming the
tubular ducts lined with epithelium that
deliver the secreted material where it is
used
Have epithelial ducts carrying secretions to
specific sites; the ducts of simple glands are
unbranched and those of compound glands
are branched
The secretory portions of exocrine glands
may form round, saclike acini (also called
alveoli) or elongated tubules; both types of
secretory units may themselves branch
Producing mucus, or similar individual cells
called goblet cells, are called mucous
glands; oligosaccharide components of
mucus stain poorly with routine dyes but
stain well with PAS Stain
Endocrine Glands
Lose the connection to their original
epithelium and therefore lack ducts.
Thin-walled blood vessels (capillaries)
adjacent to endocrine cells absorb their
secreted hormone products for transport in
blood to target cells throughout the body
Lack ducts; secreted substances are
hormones carried throughout the body by
the interstitial fluid and blood, with specificity
produced by the hormone receptors of
target cells
Producing largely enzymes (proteins) are
called serous glands and stain darkly with H
& E due to the cells content of RER and
secretory granules
