Epithelial Tissue

The shape of the cells depones on: Cell skeleton, shape of neighbouring cells, and
Intercellular connections.

They have many functions: 1) Secretion 2) Absorption 3) Transport 4) Protection and

5) Receptors

Shapes of cells: 1) Squamous 2) Cuboidal 3) Columnar 4) PSCCE (Pseudostratified

Collated Columnar Epithelium) 5) Transitional Epithelium

There are two types of layer thickness: A) Simple (one layer), B) Stratified (many
layers).

1)A) Simple Squamous epithelia: the flat nucleus is in the middle

of a thin, wide cell. Locations: lung alveoli, inner surface of blood
vessels, bowman capsule of kidneys.

2)A) Simple Cuboidal epithelia: The nucleus is the centre of a relatively

equal width and height cube-like cell. Locations: kidney tubules, small
ducts of exocrine glands, and outer surface of ovaries.

3)A) Simple Columnar epithelium: Nucleus at the base of a

tall, thin, ovoid shaped cells. Locations: Stomach, Intestine,
and Gall bladder epithelia.

4) Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium: Columnar single cell layer,

where all of the cells attach to the basement membrane, but not all
reach the surface, causing the nuclei to change place within the
cytoplasm considering the space available. Locations: Trachea and
bronchi, Ductus epididymis and deferens.

1)B) Stratified Squamous epithelia: Needed for mechanical

assistance and protection, cells at the bottom are columnar. As new
cells form, change shape, and old cells are pushed to the
top, which is flat. Some flatten but are nucleated at the surface, but in
other structures the surface has dead cells because of the lack of
nutrition.

2)B) ratified Cuboidal epithelia: Cells specialize in selective absorption and

secretion by the gland into blood or lymph vessels. Locations: Ducts of
sweat glands, and big ducts of glands, and anorectal conjunction.

3)B) Stratified Columnar epithelia: Cells which are responsible

for p rotection and mucous secretion. Locations: Biggest gland ducts,
and Anorectal conjunction.
 5) Transitional Epithelium: Similar to Stratified Squamous epithelia,
with minor differences, like its only 3 to 5 layers, and changes shape
according to the organ and pressure applied on it. Locations: pelvis
renalis, urether, bladder and the beginning of the urethra. Surface
cells change from dome to flat.

Stem cells of epithelium continuously divide either sidewise to make

simple epithelium layer, or upwards to make the stratified epithelium.

It takes around 28 days for full skin replacement, while only 4 to 6 days to replace
the stomach and intestines epithelium cells.

Epithelial Metaplasia: occurs when one type of epithelium type differentiates to

another. Usually from simple columnar to stratified squamous, every so often, from
simple squamous to simple columnar. Cancerous cells like lung cancer traditionally is
derived from these transitions’ zones.
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Glandular Epithelia are secretions specialized cells, consists of two types:
1) Exocrine Glands: Secrete their products onto the surfaces by a short route or
through epithelial ducts, which modify the contain of the products by concentrating,
reabsorbing, or adding essential substances. As in the pancreas saliva and sweat
glands.
2) Endocrine Glands: Secrete their products into the connective tissue passing to the
bloodstream to reach the target cells. Products by these glands are called Hormones,
and they don’t have or need a duct system. Examples include: Langerhans islands of
pancreas, Hypophysis, thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Cell Signaling is of two types, Paracrine and Autocrine signaling.
A) Paracrine signaling: Cells secrete substances that do not reach the bloodstream,
rather affect nearby cells only.
B) Autocrine signaling: Cells secrete molecules to bind to itself, it’s a type of self-
messaging.
There are several types of Secretion including:
- Merocrine secretion: Products are packed by the Golgi body in
membrane bounded vesicles which fuse with the cell surface
membrane and release their content by a prosses called exocytosis.
Most common mechanism of secretion.

- Apocrine secretion: Products are released encircled by the

part of the cell surface membrane over the thin layer of the
cytoplasm. Used in secretion in the mammary gland.

- Holocrine secretion: Products accumulates within the maturing

cell, which simultaneously undergoes destruction organized by
programmed cell death pathways. Present in the Sebaceous
glands of the skin.

Categories of fluids produced are three: 1) Serous glands 2) Mucous glands

3) Mixture of the two
1) Serous glands: Produce low viscous protein-based fluid. Features:
The lumen is small, and the nuclei is round and in the middle of a
dense stained cell. Example: exocrine part of the pancreas is a pure
serous.
2) Mucous glands: Produce high viscous carbonhydrate-based fluid.
Features: The nuclei are flattened in the margin of a very light
stanined cell, with a large lumen.
3) Mixture of the two: Include: Submandibular and sublingual glands.

The Single Cellular Exocrine Glands are the Goblet cells, scattered
among other epithelia, and more often where mucous secretion is
required.
Made by Salah 😉