EPITHELIAL TISSUE

Epithelial Tissue Simple Epithelia

 Consisting of closely apposed cells
Simple squamous epithelium
without intervening intercellular
 This type is composed of a single
substances.
layer of flattened, scale- or plate-
 Epithelia are avascular, but all
like cells. It is quite common in
epithelia "grow" on an underlying
the body.
layer of vascular connective tissue.
 Present in sites of Exchange as
 The connective tissue and the
Nephrons & Lungs.
epithelium are separated by a
 The nuclei of the epithelial cells
basement membrane.
are often flattened or ovoid, i.e.
 Epithelium covers all free surfaces
egg shaped, and they are located
of the body. Epithelium also lines
close to the centre of the cells
the large internal body cavities,
where it is termed mesothelium.
 Furthermore, the internal surfaces
of blood and lymph vessels are
lined by epithelium, here called
endothelium
Function
 Protection
- Skin protects from sunlight &
bacteria & physical damage.
 Absorption
- Lining of small intestine, absorbing
nutrients into blood
 Filtration
- Lining of Kidney tubules filtering
wastes from blood plasma
 Secretion
- Different glands produce
perspiration, oil, digestive enzymes
and mucus

Simple columnar epithelium

 The cells forming a simple
columnar epithelium are taller than
they are wide.
 The nuclei of cells within the
Classification epithelium are usually located at
 Epithelia are classified on the basis the same height within the cells -
of the number of cell layers and the often close to the base of the cells
shape of the cells in the surface and are oval. An example is the
layer. simple columnar epithelium which
 If there is only one layer of cells in lines the internal surface of the
the epithelium, it is designated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) from the
simple. cardiac of the stomach to the
 If there are two or more layers of rectum.
cells, it is termed stratified.  Ciliated simple columnar
 Cells in the surface layer are, as a epithelium lines the bronchi, uterus
rule, described according to their and oviducts.
height as squamous (scale- or  Cilia are specialized for transport of
plate-like), cuboidal or columnar. fluid or mucus
 than individual cells in cuboidal or
columnar epithelia. The nuclei of
the squamous epithelial cells are
also flattened.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

 The small intestines are lined by a
simple columnar epithelium. Most
of the epithelial cells (enterocytes)
are involved in the absorption of
components of the digested food in
the lumen of the intestines.
 Complex folds of the intestinal
lining increase the surface area
available for absorption.
 Glycoproteins and glycolipids
projects from the surface of
microvilli

Identification – Epithelia Tissue

 The outlines of individual epithelial
cells are not always visible, and it
may be difficult to identify the
shape of the cells.
 It is often helpful to look at the
shape, location and spacing of the
nuclei in the epithelium, which
together will allow a very good
guess at the shape of the cells
forming the epithelium.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

 Blood vessels are probably present
in all sections you will ever see.
 They are lined by a simple
squamous epithelium. The
individual epithelial cells are
extremely flattened and form a
much larger part of the surface
Stratified Epithelia
Stratified squamous epithelium
 Composed of several layers (2-
20), vary in thickness depending
on the specific organ.
 The deepest cells, which are in
contact with the basement
membrane, are cuboidal or
columnar in shape.
 Next Layer is of cells with
polyhedral outlines. Close to the
surface of the epithelium, cells
become more flattened. At the
surface of the epithelium, cells
appear like flat scales - similar to
the epithelial cells of simple
squamous epithelia

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

 Present in areas subjected to
Friction & External
Environments as Skin,
Esophagus & Vagina.
 Basal cells often form a well
defined layer at the border of the
epithelium to the underlying
connective tissue.

Stratified Cuboidal and Columnar

Epithelia
 A two-layered cuboidal epithelium
is, for example, seen in the ducts of
the sweat glands and major
salivary glands.
 Stratified columnar epithelia are
found in the excretory ducts of the
mammary gland.
Transitional Epithelia
 Transitional epithelium is found Pseudostratified Columnar
exclusively in the excretory urinary Epithelia
passages (the renal calyces and
pelvis, the ureter, the urinary  Composed of one Layer of Cells
bladder, and part of the urethra).  All cells of this type of epithelium
 In the "relaxed" state of the are in contact with the basement
epithelium, it seems to be formed membrane, but not all of them
by many cell layers. The most reach the surface of the epithelium.
basal cells have a cuboidal or  The epithelium will look stratified
columnar shape. There are several but it is not - hence its name
layers of polyhedral cells, and, "pseudostratified".
finally, a layer of superficial cells,  Ciliated pseudostratified columnar
which have a convex, dome-shaped epithelia are found in the
luminal surface. Respiratory System
 In the distended state of the
epithelium only one or two layers
of cuboidal cells are followed by a
superficial layer of large, low
cuboidal or squamous cells. In the
distended state the epithelium will
resemble a stratified squamous
epithelium
  Base of the cilium is attached to
BASAL BODY
 Motile, finger-like extension of the
Specializations of the apical plasma membrane the move
surface sequentially or synchronously in
 Microvilli and stereocilia are finger- one direction
or thread-shaped extensions of the
epithelial cells. Their main function
is to increase the surface area of Flagella
epithelial cells.
 They are typically found in epithelia Present in only one cell type-
active in absorption. SPERMATOZOON
 Microvilli contain actin filaments, Spermatozoon- tail- >50um long and
which are in contact with the its main function is to propel the cell
terminal web of the cell . The only along the female genital tract
difference between microvilli and
stereocilia is their length. Flagellum- grows out of BASAL BODY
 Microvilli are much shorter than to which it remains attached
stereocilia. Stereocilia are, despite
their name ("cilia"), not actively
moving structures Specializations of the lateral and
basal surfaces
 Components that is responsible for
the structural integrity of Epithelial
Tissue & hence organ’s Integrity.
 Examples: 1. Desmosomes ex.
epidermis
- are specializations of the lateral
cell membranes which mediate
cell adhesion. Proteins inserted into
the cell membrane of the adjacent
cells form a protein-"zipper" linking
the cells. Fibers of the cytoskeleton
attach to the cytoplasmic side of
the desmosome to stabilize the
area of contact.
- II. Hemidesmosomes mediate
the attachment of the epithelial
cells to the basal lamina. A group
Microvilli of glycoproteins (cadherins)
- EM of apical (top) surface of two inserted into the opposing plasma
epithelial cells whose cell membranes mediate cell-to-cell
membranes lie next to each other. adhesion at desmosomes and also
The microvilli (1) of the striated at the adhesion zones or patches
border are very straight and mentioned below. Integrins,
regimented in appearance. another group of proteins, allow the
Microfilaments within them can be cell to attach to the matrix proteins
seen extending down into the of the basement membrane.
terminal web (2), which is an - III. Basal infoldings of
aggregate of fine filaments lying in plasmalemma– increase absorbing
the cell cytoplasm. Several capacity . Ex. Renal tubule
junctional complexes are seen
including tight junction (zonula
occludens =3); intermediate Specializations of the lateral
junction (zonula adherens =4); and surfaces
desmosome
 A zone of adhesion (zonula
adherens)
- is structurally not as well-
Cilia (Kinocilia) characterized as the desmosomes.
 For transport of fluid or mucus over The zonula adherens typically
the surface of the epithelium appears as a close and consistent
 Much longer (7-10um) and thicker apposition (15-20 NM) of the cell
(0.2um) then microvilli and are membranes close to the apical cell
visible under the light microscope surface and surrounding the entire
 Core= AXONEME cell. Again, fibres of the
 cytoskeleton insert into the
cytoplasmic side of this membrane
specialization
 A tight junction (zonula occludens)
between epithelial cells mediates
this aspect of epithelial function.
- Proteins inserted into the cell
membranes of adjacent cells
"stitch" the membranes of the cells
together and provide an effective
barrier to the diffusion of
substances from the outside of the
epithelium (called luminal side if
the epithelium covers the surface
of a tubular structure).
 Gap Junction (Communicating
Junction )
- Cells are closely apposed but not
fused, separated by intercellular
space
- Plasma membrane consist of tiny
tubes known as connexons