EPITHELIA &

GLANDS

Dr. Madhan Kumar

Learning Objectives
 Define Epithelium
 Classification of epithelium
with suitable examples
 Structure of different types of
epithelium
 Enumerate the functions of
epithelium
 Glandular tissue-classification
& types of glands with examples
 GENERAL FEATURES OF EPITHELIUM

• Covers the surface of the body

• Lines all the cavities and tubular organs.
• Forms the glands
• The edge of the adjacent cells are closely packed
together and their intercellular substance is sparse
• The edge of the adjacent cells are connected by cell
junctions such as cell junction /desmosomes.
• The cells in the basal layer of the epithelium rests on
the basement membrane.
• The epithelium is avascular (no direct blood supply)
and is nourished by diffusion from the underlying
connective tissue.
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GENERAL FEATURES OF EPITHELIUM

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CELL JUNCTIONS
 FUNCTIONS OF EPITHELIUM

• Protection of underlying tissues

• Trans-cellular transport of molecules

• Secretion of mucous, hormones, enzymes

• Absorption of material from the lumen (eg; intestinal tract or

certain kidney tubules).

• Control of movement of materials between body

compartments.

• Specialized epithelium. Eg: taste buds, retina of the eye and

specialized hair cells in the ear 8
 CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM

EPITHELIAL
TISSUE

SIMPLE COMPOUND

STRATIFIED TRANSITIONAL
PSEUDO-
SQUAMOUS CUBOIDAL COLUMNAR
STRATIFIED

STR. STR.
WITH (OR) WITH (OR) SQUAMOUS COLUMNAR
WITHOUT WITHOUT
MICROVIL MICROVILLI
LI / CILIA

STR.SQM. STR.SQM.NON-
KERATINIZED KERATINIZED

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 CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM

• Based on its shape

• Squamous, which is
flattened
• Cuboidal, which is cubical
• Columnar, which is tall
• Polyhedral, which is many
sided.
• Based on its arrangement
• Simple epithelium - has one
layer of cells
• Stratified epithelium - has
many layer of cells.

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CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM

UNILAYERED or SIMPLE STRATIFIED or MULTILAYERED

EPITHELIUM EPITHELIUM

• Squamous epithelium • Stratified squamous

• Columnar epithelium epithelium

• Cuboidal epithelium • Transitional epithelium

• Pseudo stratified • Stratified columnar and

columnar epithelium cuboidal epithelium
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CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM
TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM

• Multilayered ( stratified )
• Deepest layer are columnar or cuboidal,
• Middle layer polyhedral
• On surface - umbrella shaped or dome shaped – these
cells can stretch during the enlargement of the organs
• The superficial cells are joined tightly to one another to
avoid leakage of contents
• Seen in the ureter, urinary bladder, renal pelvis and
calyces and part of the urethra.
• Also called as Urothelium

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GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM

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GLANDS - DEFINITION

• Glands are structures which develop as an outgrowth from

epithelium lined surfaces.
• The epithelial cells are specialized and are arranged as
single or groups of cells, to perform a secretory function.
• Glandular Epithelium is made of Columnar + goblet cells
• These Columnar (sometimes cuboidal) epithelial cells
often become specialized as gland cells which synthesize,
secrete various substance like enzymes, hormones, milk,
mucus, sweat, wax and saliva.
• Some parts of the glandular epithelium consist of large
number of goblet cells that there are only a few normal
epithelial cells left.

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GLANDS – TYPES

Glands can be broadly divided into

Unicellular glands
consist of single, isolated columnar cell with secretory activity
– such cells are called as the goblet cells. Seen along with
other non-secreting epithelial cells. Eg. Intestines
Multicellular glands
They are composed of clusters of cells which develops as a
diverticula from epithelial surface. Distal part of the diverticula
develops into secretory part and the Proximal part form the
ducts which opens into epithelial surface.

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GLANDS – TYPES
UNICELLULAR MULTICELLULAR

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GLANDS - TYPES

Depending on the type of secretions exocrine

Mucous glands
 (mucopolysaccharide, seen collect in the apex of the cell so the
nucleus is pushed to the base)
Serous glands
 (protein in nature, cytoplasm granular, nucleus is central)
Epithelial cells of secretory portion of a glands has
specialized structures depending on its secretions
 Protein secretion – well developed ER, supranuclear Golgi apparatus
 Mucin secretion – well developed Rough ER, Golgi complex
Steroid secretion –
 extensive smooth ER, prominent mitochondria

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GLANDS - TYPES

• Based on how the secretions are poured out of the cell:

• MEROCRINE -secretions are thrown by exocytosis, cell remaining
intact
• APOCRINE - part of the cell is lost along with its secretions eg.
Sweat gland
• HOLOCRINE - Entire cell degenerates while discharging its
secretions. eg. Sebaceous gland.
• Endocrine glands:
• Arranged in clumps
• Has good blood supply
• Supported by connective tissue
• to hold the clumps of cells and blood vessels in place
• Surrounded by a capsule.

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GLANDS - TYPES

 EXOCRINE GLAND are classified based on the ducts

and their branching

 SIMPLE GLAND
 If the secretions are sent through one duct

 COMPOUND GLAND
 Sometimes number of secreting glands, each group with their
own duct, these ducts unite to form larger ducts which
ultimately drain to epithelial surface (via these larger ducts)

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 GLANDS - TYPES
SHAPE TUBULAR

ALVEOLAR / ACINAR

SIMPLE
DUCTAL TUBULO-ALVEOLAR
BRANCHING
COMPLEX
HOLOCRINE

MODE OF SECRETION APOCRINE

MULTICELLULAR
MEROCRINE

DEVELOPMENT ECTODERMAL

MESODERMAL

MUCOUS
ENDODERMAL
SECRETION

SEROUS

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 GLANDS - TYPES

TYPE SHAPE

Straight tube like shape, can be

TUBULAR
coiled or branched

ACINAR Rounded sac like shape

ALVEOLI Flask like shape

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GLANDS - TYPES
GLANDS - TYPES
SIMPLE STRAIGHT
TUBULAR GLAND
SIMPLE TUBULAR GLAND

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GLANDS - TYPES

SIMPLE COILED TUBULAR SIMPLE BRANCHED TUBULAR

GLAND GLAND

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GLANDS - TYPES

Simple branched Tubulo-acinar

Simple branched Saccular gland gland

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GLANDS - TYPES

MEROCRINE GLANDS

APOCRINE GLANDS

HOLOCRINE GLANDS
 COMPOUND TUBULAR GLAND

• The kidney is an example.

• Secretory units are tubular

provided with a branching
duct system.

• The pointer in this

indicates bifurcation of a
portion of the duct system

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COMPOUND TUBULO-ACINAR GLANDS

• Eg. Human salivary

glands.

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 COMPOUND SACCULAR GLAND

• Eg. Mammary gland..

• Compound saccular
glands show expanded
secretory units
• each with a relatively
large lumen and a thin
epithelial wall.
• The pointer indicates
ducts.

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 ENDOCRINE GLAND

• Eg. Anterior pituitary, para PARATHYROID GLAND

thyroid glands.
• Endocrine glands show
clumps or strands of cells that
elaborate their hormones
directly into the blood stream.
Even at low magnification the
vascularity of this gland is
obvious.
• Note the thin walled blood
vascular channels

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