EPITHELIAL TISSUES

EPITHELIAL TISSUES
Features characteristics:
1. Covers surfaces with uninterrupted layer of cells
2. Cells attached to one another – tightly joined to each other by cell junctions
3. Intercellular spaces are small/none
4. Cells are polarized (apical & basal)
5. Avascular but has a nerve supply
6. Separated from underlying tissue by basement membrane – separate epithelial & connective tissue
7. Regenerative – cells may divide for tissue renewal

Functions
 Protection from physical trauma, sun rays, microorganisms. i.e. skin
 Absorption of nutrients. i.e. digestive lining
 Filtration of wastes from blood plasma. i.e. kidney (kidney tubules)
 Secretion – i.e. glandular epithelia (endocrine, exocrine)
 Transportation – cilia of trachea – help move the mucus up to be move up & be excreted
 Receptor function – i.e. taste buds, retina of eye

BASAL SURFACE OF EPITHELIA

 Basal surface is called the basal membrane of basal lamina
 More preferred as basal lamina because it is not a lipid bilayer
 Only the epithelial tissue has the basement membrane
 Basement Membrane = Basal Lamina (2 layers) + Reticular Lamina

Composition of Basal Lamina

1. Type IV Collagen – greatest number of protein found in the body
2. Laminin – large glycoprotein localized mainly in lamina lucida
3. Proteoglycans
- for cell attachment & selective filter
- with heparan sulfate
– gives basal lamina strong aniotic charge regulating the passage of ions across the basal lamina
4. Fibronectin
- Small amount – bind basal membrane to underlying stroma, found more in lamina densa

General Function of Basement Membrane

1. Provide a physical support to the epithelium
2. Its structural support of type IV collagen gives it considerable tensile strength
3. It is flexible enough to permit stretching & recoil to protect hollow organs
4. Provides for cell attachment by specific binding sites in the cell membrane

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SPECIALIZATION OF THE FREE SURFACES

A. Cilia
 Found on the cells of the uterine tubes & in most respiratory passages
 Contains axoneme: the microtubule-based internal structure
 Function : move substances such as mucus & egg cells
Classification of Cilia
1. Motile
- possess a typical 9+2 axonemal organization with microtubule-associated motor proteins necessary for
forces needed to induce motility
2. Primary Cilia / Monocilia
- immobile (1 cilia/cell) because of the different components of microtubules in the axoneme & lack of
microtubules-associated motor protein
Functions:
 Chemosensors
 Osmosensors
 Mechanosensors
 Mediate light sensation
 Odorant
 Sound perception in multiple organs of the body
3. Nodal Cilia
- long & branched
- concentrated in the area that surrounds the primitive node hence nodal cilia
- Found in the embryo on the bilaminar embryonic disc at the time of gastrulation
- for rotational movement in embryonic development
- essential in developing left-right asymmetry of internal organs

B. Stereocilia
 Resorb 90% of this fluid as the spermatozoa start to become motile
 Found on the surface of cells in:
- Epididymis
- ductus deferens
- sensory cells of the ear

C. Microvilli
 Visible as striated brush borders on the epithelium of the small intestine & tubules of kidney
 Function
 To increase/maximize surface area
 On moist & mucus secreting epithelium
 absorb nutrients (small intestine)
 transport ions (kidney)

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Lateral Surface : CELL JUNCTIONS

Features
 Factors holding epithelial cells together
 Adhesion proteins link plasma membranes of adjacent cells
 Contours of adjacent cell membranes
 Special cell junctions
a. Tight Junction
b. Adherence Junction
c. Desmosomes
d. Hemidesmosomes
e. Gap junction

a. Tight Junction (Zonula occludens)

 Found at the most apical part
 Zonula : the junction that forms a band encircling the cell
 Occludens : membrane fusion that close off the intercellular spaces
 Function
 Prevent passage of substance between cells which are common to epithelial cells that line
the stomach, intestines & urinary bladder
 Prevent leaking of substances to the blood

b. Adherence Junction (Zonula Adherence)

 Made of plaque – dense layer of protein on the inside of plasma membrane
 Form extensive bands called adhesion belts - adhesion is done by binding action of cadherin
 Function - Help epithelial surface to resist separation

c. Desmosomes (Macula Adherence)

 Usually found on the epidermis of cardiac muscles of the heart
 Connecting body
 Composed of plaque
 with tonofilaments (intermediate filaments)
- to dissipate physical forces throughout the cell from attachment site

d. Hemidesmosomes (hemi-half)
 Found in the basal region / surface of some stratified squamous epithelia
 Function:
 Anchor one kind of tissue to another in the body
 signaling for things such as proliferation & apoptosis

e. Gap junction
 The gap is bridged by transmembrane protein channels called connexons
 Connexins – individual unit of gap junction
 Plasma membrane converge but leave tight tiny spores
 Function
 Allow cell in tissue to communicate
 Allow cell to exchange ions, regulatory molecules & small metabolites
 Enable nerve or muscle impulses to spread rapidly between cells

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TYPES OF EPITHELIAL TISSUE

TWO TYPES OF EPITHELIAL TISSUES
1. Covering & lining epithelium
 Forms the epidermis of the skin & outer covering of some internal organs
 Forms the inner lining of blood vessels, ducts & body cavities, interior of respiratory, digestive,
urinary & reproductive system

Classifications of Epithelia
 First name of tissue indicates number of layers
 Simple – one layer of cells
 Stratified – more than one layer of cells
 Last name of tissue describes shape of cells
 Squamous – cells wider than tall (plate of “scale” like)
- for filtration, diffusion, osmosis, secretion
 Cuboidal – cells are as wide as tall, as in cubes
- Either for secretion or absorption
 Columnar – cells are taller than they are wide, like columns
- Generally for protection, since they are structured with cilia, it is for absorption & secretion

Special Classification
 Pseudo-stratified
 Contains a single layer of cells but appears to have multiple layers because of cell nuclei lie at
different levels & not all cells reach the apical surface
 Transitional
 Cells change shape from columnar to flat & back as body parts stretch, expand or move
 i.e. urinary bladder, urethra

Naming Epithelia
 Naming the epithelia include both the layers (first) & the shape of the cells (second)
 i.e. stratified cuboidal epithelium
 The name may also include any accessory structure
 Goblet cells – secrete mucus (for lubrication)
 Cilia
 Keratin

 Special epithelial tissues (don’t follow naming convention)

 Pseudostratified
 Transitional

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Classification according to combined cell layers & shapes

A. Simple Epithelium
a. Simple Squamous
 Single layer of flat cells
 Location :
- Bowman’s capsule in the kidney - lining of blood vessels (endothelium)
- lining of lung alveoli - lining of major body cavities (mesothelium)
 Special Types
Endothelium – epithelial lining of the blood & lymphatic vessel
Endocardium – epithelial lining of ventricles & atria of the heart
Mesothelium – epithelial that lines the walls & covers the contents of the closed cavities
of the body; abdominal, pericardial & pleural cavities
* Special types are almost always simple squamous except post capillary venules of
lymphatic system which is cuboidal & endothelial of spleen which are rod-shaped

b. Simple Cuboidal
 Microvilli – increase surface area
 Location
- capsule of the lens of the eye - glandular ducts
- kidney tubules - surface of ovary

c. Simple Columnar
Two forms:
c1. Nonciliated Simple Columnar
 Contains microvilli & goblet cells
 Lines the
- GIT from the stomach to the anus
- ducts of many glands & gall bladder

c2. Ciliated Simple Columnar

 Goblet cells present in the upper respiratory tract
 Lines a few portion of :
- upper respiratory tract - some paranasal sinuses
- uterine tubes - central canal of spinal cord
- uterus

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Description
 All cells originate at basement membrane
 Only tall cells reach the apical surface
 May contain goblet cells & bear cilia
 Nuclei lie at varying height within cells - gives false impression of stratification
Function: Secretion of mucus; propulsion of mucus by cilia
Locations
 Non-ciliated type
 Ducts of male reproductive tubes
 Ducts of large glands
 Ciliated type
 Lines trachea
 most of upper respiratory tract

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B. Stratified Epithelia
- Contain two or more layers of cells
- Regenerate from below
- Major role is protection
- named according to the shape of cells at the apical layer
a. Stratified Squamous
- Cells in the superficial layers are flat
- Cells in deep layers vary in the shape from cuboidal to columnar
- Basal (deepest) cells replace cells as they are lost
- For protection
- Prevents water loss
Two forms
a1. Keratinized Stratified Squamous
o Tough layer of keratin is deposited in the surface cells
o Forms superficial layer of the skin

a2. Nonkeratinized Stratified Squamous

o Does not contain keratin & remains moist
o Lines wet surfaces
- lining of the mouth
- covers the tongue
- part of epiglottis
- esophagus
- vagina

b. Stratified Cuboidal
 Location
- ducts of adult sweat glands
- part of male urethra

c. Stratified Columnar
 Location
- Lines part of urethra
- large excretory glands
- small areas in the anal mucous membrane
- part of the conjunctiva of the eye

Transitional Epithelium
 Appearance is variable (transitional)
 Shape of cells at apical surface
- squamous when stretched
- cuboidal when relaxed
 Permits distention
 Lines urinary bladder & portions of ureters & urethra
 Helps prevent rupture of these organs

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2. Glandular Epithelium
 Form specialized cells for secretion
 Constitutes the secreting portion of glands such as thyroid gland, adrenal gland & sweat gland
a. Endocrine
 Secretion is in the inside to be diffused to the blood
 Secretory products (hormones) diffuse into blood after passing through interstitial fluid
 Location
- pituitary gland at the base of the brain - pancreas near stomach
- pineal gland in brain - ovaries in pelvic cavity
- thyroid & parathyroid glands near larynx - testes in scrotum
- adrenal glands superior to kidneys - thymus gland in thoracic cavity
b. Exocrine
 Secretory products released into ducts
 Produce mucus, perspiration, oil, earwax, milk, saliva or digestive enzymes
 Location
- sweat, oil, earwax, & mammary glands of the skin
- digestive glands such as salivary glands which secrete into the mouth cavity
- pancreas which secretes into the small intestine - product maybe released at the skin surface
or into the lumen (cavity) of the hollow organ

3 Basic Release Mechanisms for Secretory Products

1. Merocrine Secretion (simple)
 Just release secretions via exocytosis
- secretory products are made by endoplasmic reticulum
- pumped by golgi complex
- released by cell via secretory vesicles by exocytosis
 i.e. Salivary & pancreas

2. Apocrine Secretion
- Secretory products accumulate of the apical part
- once accumulated, it will pinch off from the body to release secretion
- the remaining part undergo meiosis & regenerate
 Example are under study

3. Holocrine Secretion
- Secretory products will accumulate in the cytosol (fluid part of cell)
- when cell matures, they die order to release products
- the remaining part undergo meiosis & regenerate
 i.e. Sebaceous gland of protein

Types of Secretion Produced

1. Mucus
 viscous & slimy secretion
 Mucus secreting gland : nuclei flattened & located in the very basal portion of the cell
 Examples
- Goblet cells
- sublingual salivary glands
- surface of stomach

2. Serous – watery secretion

Serous gland : nuclei is round or oval

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Classification
 Unicellular Glands
- Common example is the goblet cell
- Located in the lining & glands of intestines & certain passages of respiratory tract
 Multicellular Gland
- Example : sweat, oil & salivary gland
- Categorized into two:
1. Unbranched/Simple Glands
2. Branched/Compound Glands

Multicellular exocrine glands as to structure

1. Simple gland – single non-branched duct
a. simple acinar
- secretory portion is flask like
- e.g. glands of urethra
b. simple branched acinar
- secretory portion is branched & flask like
- e.g. sebaceous gland
c. simple branched tubular
- secretory portion is branched & tubular
- e.g. gastric glands
d. simple coiled tubular
- secretory portion is coiled
- e.g. sweat glands
e. simple tubular
- secretory portion is straight & tubular
- e.g. large intestinal gland

2. Compound gland – branched ducts

a. compound acinar
- secretory portion is flask like
- e.g. mammary gland
b. compound tubular
- secretory portion is tubular
- e.g. Volvo urethra glands or Cowper’s gland
c. compound tubule acinar
- secretory portion is tubular & flask like
- e.g. pancreas

Clinical Considerations
 Tumor formation
– epithelial proliferation gives rise to tumors when mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation do
not function properly under certain pathologic conditions
 Benign – if they are localized
 Malignant – if they wander from their original site & metastasize (seed) to another area of the
body & continue to proliferate
 Carcinomas - ,malignant tumors that arise from surface epithelium
 Adenocarcinomas – develop from glandular epithelium
 Metaplasia
- Transform into another epithelial cell type
- Example: occurs in the lining epithelium of the oral cavity of individuals who smoke or use
chewing tobacco