Epithelial Tissue

Topic Outline
• Tissues
• Epithelial Tissue
• Characteristic Features of Epithelial Cells
• Morphological Types of Epithelial Tissue
• Covering or Lining Epithelia
• Secretory Epithelia and Glands
• Transport Across Epithelia
• Medical Application
Tissues
• Is the aggregation of cells leading to a
structure with specialized functions.
• Each tissue is an assemblage of
similarly specialized cells performing a
specific function
• There are four main tissue types in the
body:
• Epithelial
• Connective
• Muscular
• Nervous
Tissues
• Aside from the cells, each tissue contains extracellular matrix which
varies from each other
• ECM functions for structural support network, cell migration, wound
healing, and differentiation.
• Components: proteins, sugars, and water
Epithelial Tissue
• Polyhedral cells that are bound
tightly together structurally and
functionally to form sheet like or
tubular structure.
• ECM is present but found in small
amount only.
• Greek root words:
• “epi” – on or upon
• “thele – nipple
Epithelial Tissue
Location
• Epithelial tissues are found all
over the body
• Cavity linings of organs
• Body surfaces (external and
internal)
• Glands
Epithelial Tissue
Functions
• Protection
• Secretion
• Absorption
• Excretion
• Contractile Motion
• Sensory
Characteristic Features of Epithelial Cells
• Epithelial tissues vary in shape
(columnar, cuboidal, and
squamous)
• Adjacent to connective tissue
Lamina Propia – connective
tissue that underlies the
epithelia
Papilae – small evaginations
• Occurs on epithelial tissues
subject to friction
• Ex. Skin and tongue
Characteristic Features of Epithelial Cells
• Epithelial cells generally shows
polarity
• Organelles and membrane proteins are
distributed evenly within the cell

Parts
• Basal Surface – contacting ECM and
connective tissue
• Lateral Surface – adjoin neighboring
cells; cell membranes have
numerous folds
• Apical Surface – facing lumen and
extracellular space
Basement Surface
• Basal surface of all epithelia that
rests on a thin extracellular matrix
• Glycoproteins and other components

Functions
• Semipermeable properties
• Structural support
• Tissue regeneration
• Compartmentalization
Basement Surface
Basal Lamina
• Fine extracellular layer
• Thin meshwork of:
• Type IV collagen
• Laminin
• Nidogen and Perlecan
Basement Surface
Reticular Lamina
• Diffuse and fibrous layer
• Adjacent to the connective tissue

Components
• Type III collagen – bound to basal
lamina
• Type VII collagen – anchoring fibrils

Both are produced by the cells of

connective tissue.
Basement Surface
Lateral Surface
• Adjoin neighboring cells
• Cell membranes have numerous folds =
increase area and functional capacity of
the surface.

Intracellular adhesion and other junctions

• Tight/Occluding Junctions
• Adherent/Anchoring Junctions
• Desmosomes
• Gap Junctions
• Hemidesmosomes
Lateral Surface
Lateral Surface
Tight/Occluding Junctions
• Most apical of all the junctions
• “zonula” = junction forms a band;
encircling the cell
• Formed by interacting
transmembrane proteins such as
claudin and occludin.
• Seal between the cell and tight
Lateral Surface
Tight/Occluding Junctions
• Serve as a fence restricting
movements of membrane lipids
and proteins at the apical surface
into the lateral and basal surfaces

• Separate tissue spaces

• Apical
• Basolateral
Lateral Surface
Tight/Occluding Junctions
Lateral Surface
Adherent/Anchoring Junctions
• Zonula adherens
• Encircles the epithelial cell and
it is below the tight junction
• Cadherins
• protein component creating strong
attachment holding the epithelium
together
• Binded by the presence of your calcium
ions
Lateral Surface
Adherent/Anchoring Junctions
• Catenins
• Cytoplasmic end, cadherins now are
linked to actin filaments and actin-
binding proteins (vinculin).

• “Terminal Web”
• Actin filaments + adherent junction
• AJ + Apical pole of the epithelial cell
function like a plastic band that hold
cells together.
Lateral Surface
Adherent/Anchoring Junctions
Lateral Surface
Desmosomes/Macula Adherens
• Resembles a single “spot-weld”
and does not form a belt around
the cell
• Disk-shaped structures at the
surface of one cell that are
matched with identical structures
at an adjacent cell surface.
Lateral Surface
Desmosomes/Macula Adherens
• Contains more cadherin family
protein called desmogleins and
desmocollins.
• Cytoplasmic ends bind
plakoglobins and desmoplakins
(attachment plaque; electron
dense)
• Attachment plaque bind
intermediate filaments proteins
(tonofilaments/keratin)
Lateral Surface
Desmosomes/Macula Adherens
• Provides strong adhesion
between cells
• Gives mechanical strength to
tissues
Lateral Surface
Hemidesmosomes
• Type of anchoring junction found
in the basal epithelial surface.
• They resemble a half desmosome
• Composed of transmembrane
integrins
• Integrins bind to basal lamina
specifically to the laminin
Lateral Surface
Hemidesmosomes
Lateral Surface
Gap Junctions
• Points of cell contact composed of
transmembrane gap junction protein
(connexins) to form hexameric
complexes (connexons) that allow
passage of small molecules from one
cell to the other.
Lateral Surface
Gap Junctions
• Capable of controlling its
passageway
• Calcium ions main factor on the
opening and closing of the gap
junctions
• Another factor is pH and voltage
Lateral Surfaces
Gap Junctions
Apical Surface
• Apical surface features/structures
found in cuboidal and columnar
cells to increase the surface area
for better absorption or to move
substances along the surface

Microvilli
Stereocilia
Cilia
Apical Surface
Microvilli
• Specialized for absorption in the
apical cell surface
• Uniform in length
• Brush/Striated Border – microvilli-
covered surface of epithelial cells
Apical Surface
Microvilli
• Microvilli interacts with the
glycocalyx which include
membrane-bound proteins and
enzymes for digestion.
Apical Surface
Microvilli
• Each microvilli contains bundled
actin filaments capped and bound
to the surrounding plasma
membrane.
• Actin filaments insert into the
terminal web of cortical
microfilaments at the base of the
microvilli.
Apical Surface
Stereocilia
• Less common type of apical
structure
• Seen on the absorptive epithelial
cells lining the male reproductive
system
• Increase cells’ surface area =
facilitating absorption
Apical Surface
Stereocilia
• Ears – stereocilia have motion
detecting functions found in
the inner ear sensory cells

• Stereocilia are much longer,

less motile, and show
branching compared to
microvilli.
Apical Surface
Cilia
• Long, highly motile apical
structures, and larger than
microvilli.
• Contains internal arrays of
microtubules
• Primary cilium – not motile, rich
with receptors and signal
transduction complexes
Apical Surface
Cilia
• Motile cilia are abundant in cuboidal
and columnar cells
• Core Structure: nine microtubule
doublet (9+2 assembly /axoneme)
• Kinesin and Cytoplasmic Dynein
Motors
Apical Surface
Cilia
• Axonemes are continues with
those in basal bodies just below
the cell membrane.
• Basal bodies have similar
structure with centrioles (9+3).
• Forms rootlets anchoring the
entire structure to the
cytoskeleton
Apical Surface
Cilia
• Exhibit rapid beating patterns
that move on one direction of
fluid along the epithelium.
• Movement due to conformation
of the axoneme making them
stiff, but elastic.
Apical Surface
Cilia
• Movement utilizes ATP
• Dynein arms slide to adjacent
doublet,
• creates bend
• produce sliding movements
• Beating motion of the cilium.
Apical Surface
Types of Epithelia
Covering or Lining Epithelia
Secretory Epithelia and Glands

• Arbitrary since there are lining epithelia that can also secrete and
glands that are distributed among the lining of the cells.
Covering or Lining Epithelia
• This type of epithelia covers the surface or line the cavities of an
organ.
• Can be classified in terms of layers
• Can be classified in terms of cell shape
Simple Squamous Epithelium
• Composed of thin polyhedral
cells
• Function
• regulates the passage of
substances into the underlying
tissue.

• Organs
• Blood vessels
• Mesothelium
• Eye
• Organ Linings
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
• Composed of one layer of cuboidal
cells
• Function
• For covering and secretion

• Organs
• Renal collecting tubules
• Thyroid follicles
• Ovaries
• Ducts
Simple Columnar Epithelium
• Composed of one layer of tall but
not wide cells
• Function
• For protection, lubrication,
absorption, and secretion

• Organs
• GI Tract
• Gall Bladder
• Most cells with cilia
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
• Two or more layers of squamous
epithelia.

• Types
• Stratified Squamous Keratinized
Epithelium
• Stratified Squamous Nonkeratinized
Epithelium
Stratified Squamous Keratinized Epithelium
• Undergoes the process of
keratinization
• Upward movement to the skin
surface
• keratin filaments
• Increased number of desmosomes
= irregular in shape
• Helps prevent dehydration.
• Organ
• Epidermis of the skin
Stratified Squamous Nonkeratinized
Epithelium
• Layers of squamous epithelium that
retain their nuclei and metabolic
functions.
• Function
• Protection
• Secretion
• Prevents Water Loss
• Organs
• Vagina
• Esophagus
• Mouth
• Anal Canal
• Larynx
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
• Layers of cuboidal epithelium
• Function
• Protection and Secretion

• Organs
• Sweat Glands
• Ureters
• Renal Calyces
Stratified Columnar Epithelium
• Layers of columnar epithelium
• Rare type of epithelium
• Function
• Protection and mucous secretion
• Organ
• Conjunctiva
• Anus
• Urethra
Pseudostratified Epithelium
• Layers of cells with nuclei at
different levels
• Not all cells reach the surface but
all adhere to the basal lamina
• Function
• Protection
• Secretion
• Cilia mediated transport
• Organ
• Trachea
• Bronchi
Transitional Epithelium
• Also called the urothelium that
posses umbrella cells.
• Function
• Protection and distensibility
• Organ
• Bladder
• Ureters
Secretory Epithelia and Glands
• Glands - Epithelial cells that
function mainly to produce and
secrete various macromolecules
• Store, release and release
• Proteins (pancreatic secretions)
• Lipids (sebaceous glands)
• Carbohydrates + Protein ( salivary
glands)
• Milk (mammary glands)
• Water + ions (sweat glands)
Secretory Epithelia and Glands
• Scattered secretory
cells = unicellular glands
• Common in simple
cuboidal, simple
columnar, and
pseudostratified
• Goblet Cells – small
intestine and respiratory
tract
Secretory Epithelia and Glands
• Exocrine Glands
• Glands that remained connected
with the surface epithelium
• Endocrine Glands
• Lose the connection to their
original epithelium; lacks ducts
• Adjacent to blood vessels
(capillaries)
Exocrine Glands
• Acini/Alveoli – saclike; secretory
portion of the exocrine glands
• Duct – conducting portion

• Types
• Simple
• Compound
Exocrine Glands
Exocrine Glands
Exocrine Glands: Secretory Mechanisms
Merocrine Glands
• Most common methods of secretion
• Involves exocytosis from membrane-
bound vesicle or secretory granules
• Ex. Salivary Glands

• Secretions can be serous or mucous

• Serous - digestive enzymes
• Mucous - respiratory secretions
• mucins + water = mucus
• Serromucous – salivary glands
Holocrine Glands
• Secretions is produced by the
disintegration of the secretory
cells.
• Cells become filled with product
as they divide
• Ex. Sebaceous glands and
Meibomian Glands
Apocrine Glands
• Secretion involves loss of membrane-
enclosed apical cytoplasm.
• Releases lipid droplets
• Ex. Mammary Glands and Sweat
Glands*
Exocrine Glands
Sebaceous glands vs. Sweat Glands
• Sebaceous Glands – glands found in
the hair follicles that secrete sebum
• oily substance that protects your skin
from drying out

• Sweat Glands - coiled tubular

structures that secrete sweat
• Merocrine
• Apocrine
Transport Across Epithelia
• Transcellular transport
• Transfer of ions via ion pumps and water via membrane channels
• Tight junction prevent paracellular diffusion

• Transcytosis
• Specialized transport through which an extracellular cargo is endocytosed,
shuttled across the cytoplasm in membrane‐bound vesicles, and secreted at a
different plasma membrane surface.
Transport Across Epithelia
Medical Applications
Kartagener Syndrome
• Immotile cilia syndrome caused
by mutation (autosomal
recessive)
• Causes non-functional cilia
leading to respiratory tract
infections
• Also causes male and female
infertility.
Medical Applications
Chronic Bronchitis
• Common to smokers
• Increase number of goblet cells in
the lungs = increase mucus
production; decrease ciliated cells
• Obstruction of airways
• Pseudostratified transforms to
stratified squamous epithelium
Medical Applications
Acne/ Acne vulgaris
• Holocrine sebaceous glands
• Excessive sebum + keratin triggered
by the surge of testosterone during
puberty
• Propionibacterium acnes causes
inflammation
Medical Applications
Tumors
• Benign and malignant
• Arise from most types of epithelial
cells
• Carcinomas – epithelial origin
• Adenocarcinomas – glandular
epithelial tissue