Isaiah 40:31

• But those who hope in the LORD will renew

their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint
Epithelial Tissue
 General Functions
1. Surface Covering/Lining
2. Secretory units
 Functions
1. Protection of underlying tissues of the body from
abrasion and injury
2. Transcellular transport of molecules across
epithelial layers
3. Secretion of mucus precursor, hormones, enzymes,
and other molecules form various glands
4. Absorption of material from a lumen (i.e.,
intestinal tract or certain kidney tubules
5. Control of movement of materials between body
compartments via selective permeability of
intercellular junctions between epithelial cells
6. Detection of sensations via taste buds, retina of
the eye, and specialized hair cells in the ear
 Special Functions
• Sensory (ex: olfactory cells)
• Contractile (ex: myoepithelial cells)
• Excretory (ex: kidney ECs)
• Source of Germ cells (ex: Testes ECs)
 Embryonic Origin of
Epithelial Tissue
1. Ectoderm
-ECs that cover external surfaces of the body
ex. Skin and its appendages; cornea

2. Endoderm
-ECs that line the digestive tract except for those of the
mouth and anus(ectoderm),
-liver,
-gallbladder,
-pancreas,
-respiratory tract,
-urinary bladder
-urethra.
3. Mesoderm

-ECs that line the:

-heart
-blood and lymphatic vessels
-serous cavities
-Urinary system(kidneys and their ducts
except urinary bladder)
-male and female reproductive system
 General Characteristics of
Epithelial Tissue

• highly cellular-cells are closely packed

together
• avascular
• exhibit polarity (basal, lateral and
superficial)
 General Structure
• Basement Membrane
• Epithelial Cells
 Basement Membrane
• Basal Lamina- provides structural support
to the overlying epithelium
– Lamina rara externa(lamina lucida)
– Lamina densa
– Lamina rara interna

• Reticular lamina
(lamina fibroreticularis)
 2 Functional Groups of Epithelial Tissue
• Surface epithelium (Covering
Epithelium/lining epithelium)
• Glandular Epithelium
Covering Epithelium
Covering Epithelium
Simple Squamous Epithelium

-exhibit irregular polygonal outline

that fit into each other like
piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

-lines the lung alveoli, parietal layer of the Bowman’s

capsule

Some Traditionally Assigned Names:

Endothelium-SSE that lines the luminal surface of the
heart, blood and lymphatic vessels
Mesothelium- SSE that lines the serous cavities
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

-squarish in outline and nuclei are round and centrally located.

-present in:
1. Certain segments of the ducts of major salivary glands and
pancreas,
2. Collecting tubules of kidney
3. Follicles of the thyroid gland
4. Surface of the ovary
Simple Columnar Epithelium

-consists of single layer of tall cells with nuclei usually

forming a single row.
-oval and more basal than apical

-Lines the stomach, intestines, and large ducts of some

exocrine glands
Ciliated simple columnar epithelium

- lines the uterus, oviducts, and

pulmonary bronchi
Stratified Squamous Epithelium

-superficial layer—cells are flat or

plaque-like; “old cells”
-deepest layer--- tall cuboidal;
columnar; new cells
-can withstand rubbing

-Forms the epidermis, lines the digestive tract from

oral cavity to esophagus, vagina, part of the
urethra, and the superficial surface of conjunctiva
and cornea.
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

-2 or 3 layers of cuboidal cells

-lines larger ducts of some glands (major
salivary glands)
Stratified Columnar Epithelium
-at least 2 layers of columnar cells(sometimes
the deeper layer is cuboidal)
-lines some ducts of exocrine glands.
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
-”false stratified epithelium”
-single layer of columnar cells; nuclei are
found at various levels.
-all cells rest on basal lamina
-lines the membranous and spongy part of
male urethra
-ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium(respiratory)- lines the trachea
and main bronchi
 Covering Epithelium
Transitional Epithelium
- designed to withstand stretching

Contracted (relaxed) state- basal cells are

cuboidal, the superficial cells bulge out into the
lumen giving the cells a dome-shaped profile.

distended (stretched) state- the epithelium

transforms into a thin stratified squamous
epithelium.
 Covering Epithelium
• Endothelium
– simple squamous epithelium lining the blood
vessels, lymph vessels, and heart cavity
• Mesothelium
– simple squamous epithelium lining serous
cavities
 Covering Epithelium
• Keratinized Stratified Squamous
– Top most layer of cells have no nuclei
– Abundant in keratin
– More resistant to friction/abrasions
 Covering Epithelium
• Non-Keratinized Stratified Squamous
– Top most layer of cells are flat but have nuclei
– Less resistant to friction/injury
Proverbs 9:10-12
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding.
• For through wisdom, your days will be
many, and years will be added to your life
• If you are wise, your wisdom will reward
you; if you are a mocker, you alone will
suffer
Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells

Apical Surface Modifications:

1. Microvilli
2. Stereocilia
3. Cilia (Kinocilia)
4. Flagella
 Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells

Microvilli
- short and fingerlike processes that protrude from
epithelial cells’ apical surface
- increases the surface area by thirty-fold
- numerous in small intestine (striated/brush border)

Stereocilia
- microvilli that are as long as cilia
- characterizes epithelial cells of the ductus(vas)
epididymis and hair cells of the inner ear.
Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells
 Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells
Cilia (Kinocilia)
-longer than microvilli
-specialized for transport of
fluid or mucus over the
surface of the epithelium.

Flagella
-much longer than cilia
-present only in
spermatozoa
Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells
 Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells

Lateral Surfaces Modifications:

- intercellular junctions; junctional
complexes; cell-to-cell attachments

1. Zonula Occludens
2. Zonula Adherens
*juxtaluminal junctional
complex
3. Desmosome
4. Gap Junction
 Surface Modifications of Epithelial Cells

Basal Surfaces Modifications:

1. Hemidesmosome
2. Basal infoldings of the plasma membrane
 Glandular Epithelium
Endocrine Glands
- deliver secretions (hormones) into blood or
lymph
- ductless

Exocrine Glands
- deliver secretions onto covering or lining
epithelium
- may or may not have ducts
 Glandular Epithelium

2 Types of Exocrine Glands

(according to complexity)

1. Unicellular
- composed of a single cell
*goblet cell

2. Multicellular
2 Types of Exocrine Glands
(according to complexity)

1. Unicellular

2. Multicellular
- further classified into three categories:
a. secretory epithelial sheet
b. intraepithelial gland
c. exocrine glands with ducts
Multicellular Glands

1. Secretory Epithelial Sheet

- covering epithelium where most cells are
secretory

2. Intraepithelial Gland
- groups of cells that gather around a small
orifice –that serves as a duct– and form
shallow invagination within the epithelial
surface.
Multicellular Glands

3. Exocrine Glands with Ducts

- possess “true”ducts. (ex. Major salivary
glands, pancreas and liver)
Exocrine Glands with Ducts
(According to Morphology)

Simple gland- has a single unbranched duct

Compound gland- duct has branches
Secretory Units

•Tubular gland
- blind-ending tube

•Alveolar (acinous/acinar) gland

- globular/basket-like

•Tubuloalveolar gland
- some are tubular and some are globular
Classification According to the Nature of
Secretion:

1. Mucous
- produce a viscous secretion that contains
mucin
2. Serous
-produce a thin, watery secretion that often
contains enzymes
3. Mixed
Classification According to Mode of Secretion:

1. Merocrine glands- release secretion by

exocytosis
2. Holocrine glands- release of secretion
entails destruction of secretory cells whose
remnants are then discharged together with
the secretions.
3. Apocrine glands- the apical part of the
secretory cells is released together with the
secretory product.
• Connective Tissue
1. Type of epithelial tissue with protective
function.
1. Type of epithelial tissue found in the
cornea:
2-4. other functions of epithelial tissues
2-4. Three special functions of epithelial
tissue:
5. True or false. Epithelial tissues have three
embryonic origins
5. True or false. Epithelial tissues have two
embryonic origins
6. What is the embryonic origin of epithelial
tissue found in heart?
6. What is the embryonic origin of epithelial
tissue found in liver?
7. Besides basal lamina, what is the other
structural layer of the basement membrane?
8-9. General functional types of epithelial
tissue
10. Simple squamous epithelial tissue found in
the lining of serous membrane
11. Type of epithelial tissue found on the
surface of ovaries.