HISTOLOGY

The science that deals with the study of tissues is called histology. In multicellular organisms, cells do
not function in isolation. They work together in groups of similar cells called tissues. A tissue is a
group of cells and their intercellular ground substance that have a similar embryonic origin and
function together to perform a specialized activity. The various types of tissue are; epithelial,
connective, nervous, and muscular.

EPITHELIAL TISSUE
These are large sheets of cells covering all the surfaces of the body exposed to the outside world
(skin, digestive tract, airways, as well as the urinary and reproductive systems), lines body cavities
and hollow organs which do not connect to the exterior of the body (blood vessels and serous
membranes), and also forms glands. These tissues are highly cellular with little or no extracellular
material (ground substance) present between cells. They are nearly completely avascular.

SIMPLE EPITHELIA
They have just a single layer of cells. They are classified according to the shape of the cells and they
include;

Simple Squamous Epithelium: they are made up of flat scale-like cells. Their nuclei tend to be flat
and horizontal. They are found in organs specialized for easy diffusion of molecules across the
epithelium. E.g., alveoli of lungs, segments of kidney and lining of capillaries and lymphatic vessels.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium: they have cube-like cells that are as wide as they are tall, and the ells
have a box-like nucleus located near the center if the cell. They are active in secretion, excretion,
and absorption of molecules. Simple cuboidal epithelium is found in the lining of the kidney tubules
and ducts of glands.

Simple Columnar Epithelium: they are tall cylindrical shaped cells whose nucleus tends to be
elongated and located towards the basal end of the cells. They active in secretion and absorption
and also contain goblet cells that secrete a sticky mucous that is important (protects the stomach
and intestinal wall from digestive enzymes, and also sticks to foreign particles). It may be ciliated
(have cilia at its apical surface) and these type are found in the fallopian tube and parts of the
respiratory system (larynx, trachea, bronchi) where the cilia remove unwanted particles. The non-
ciliated type can be seen in the digestive system where it comprises part of the stomach, the small
intestine and the large intestine.

COMPOUND EPITHELIA
These type of epithelia consists of many layers of cells. They can be divided into

Stratified Epithelium
They consist of several layers of cells with different shapes. The epithelium protects against physical
and mechanical wear and tear. The stratified epithelium is named after the type of cells found on
the most apical layer of the cells, closest to the free space.

Stratified squamous epithelium is the most common type, and from its name, we derive that the
apical cells are squamous whereas the basal cells are either columnar or cuboidal. The top cells may
be covered by keratinized dead cells as in the skin, or unkeratinised cells as in the inner walls of the
vagina.

Transitional Epithelia
These are so-called because of the gradual change in shape of the apical cells with response to force
from pressure. It is observed in organs that are subject to stretching like the bladder.

PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

This is a type of epithelium that appears to be striated (layered), but instead consists of a large layer
of irregularly shaped and differently sized columnar cells. The nuclei of the cells in the layer appear
at different heights. Some of the cells don’t reach the apical peak of the layer but all the cells lie on
the basement membrane. They are found in the large air tracks of the respiratory system, where
some off the cells have cilia.

NB: heterogeneous epithelia are epithelia that include additional types of cells interspersed among
the epithelial cells. Examples are seen with columnar, ciliated columnar and pseudostratified
columnar epithelium.

GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM
A gland is a structure made up of one or more cells modified to synthesize and secrete chemical
substances. Glands could be endocrine or exocrine.

Endocrine Glands: these are ductless glands. That is they release their secretions directly into
surrounding tissue and fluids. They secrete chemicals called hormones. Examples include; pituitary
gland, thymus gland…

Exocrine Glands: they release their secretions through ducts that open directly or indirectly to the
exterior. E.g. secretion into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. Exocrine glands could either be
unicellular (e.g. goblet cells found in the mucous membrane) or multicellular (e.g. the salivary gland).

Exocrine glands can also be classified according to their method of secretion:

 Merocrine Glands: the secretions here are enclosed in vesicles where they go to the cell
membrane and are released by exocytosis. E.g. the eccrine glands that produce and secrete
sweat.
 Apocrine Glands: here the secretion accumulates near the apical region of the cell and it
secretory content pinches of part of the cell and goes with it. E.g. are the sweat glands of the
armpit.
 Holocrine Glands: here the entire gland cell ruptures to release the secretory product.

Exocrine glands could also still be classified after the type of secretions they produce:

 Serous gland: produces a watery secretion rich in enzymes and proteins.

 Mucous glands: releases a watery to viscous secretion rich in glycoproteins.
 Sebaceous glands: they produce an oily secretion rich in lipids.