Body Tissues

(Basic Types & Classification)

Prepared By:
Nathan G. Kiboi
Dept. of Medical Laboratory Sciences
South Eastern Kenya University
 Learning Outcomes..,
• Definition of Terms
• Major Xtics of Tissues & Cell Specialization
(*Emphasis on Epithelial & Connective tissue)
• Connective Tissue Cell Lineage
–Classification and Types
–Medical Application of
Connective/Supportive tissues
 Introduction
• Tissue: An aggregate of similar cells that sub-serve
specific function (have similar functions)
• All the tissues are classified into four major types which
are called the primary tissues
• The four primary basic types of tissues comprise:
–Epithelial tissue (squamous, columnar, cuboidal)
–Connective (supporting tissue); connective tissue
proper, cartilage, bone, blood
–Nervous tissue (neurons & supporting cells)
–Muscle tissue (skeletal, smooth, cardiac)
 Introduction Cont..,
Organ:-
• Structure formed by two or more primary types of
tissues, which execute the functions of the organ
• Some organs are composed of all the four types of
primary tissues
• Organs are of two types;- tubular or hollow organs
and compact or parenchyma organs.eg brain, heart,
lungs, stomach, intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas,
kidneys, endocrine glands, etc.
 Introduction Cont..,
• NB: Hence, most organs can be divided
into two components:
i) Parenchyma: forms the main functional
cell mass
ii) Stroma: refers to supporting tissue
composed of connective tissue, except in
the brain and spinal cord
 Introduction Cont..,
System:-
• Defined as group of organs that work together
to carry out specific functions of the body.
Each system performs a specific function
• Each system performs a specific function
• Examples of systems include:-
Gastrointestinal, Respiratory, Circulatory,
Musculoskeletal, Central Nervous System etc.
Main Characteristics of Tissues & Cell Specialization
Tissue Cells Extracellular Main function
matrix
Nervous Intertwining none -Nerve impulse
elongated transmission
processes
Muscle Elongated Moderate Movement/
contractile cells Locomotion
Epithelial Aggregate of Little amount -Glandular
polyhedral cells secretion, Lining
of surfaces and
Body Cavities
Connective/ Several types of Abundant -Support and
Supportive tissue fixed and Protection
wandering cells
Specialized Cells (Cell Specialization)
 Body Tissues Cont..,
EPITHELIAL TISSUE:
• An aggregate of polyhedral cells with very little
extracellular matrix, thus they are closely packed.
• This is aided by adhesion molecules, intercellular
junctions and membrane inter-digitations.
• NB:**Everything that enters/leaves the body has
to pass through an epithelial cell lining.
 Body Tissues Cont..,
Functions of Epithelial Tissues:
–Covering and lining surfaces e.g. skin, intestines
–Absorption e.g. intestines, alveoli
–Secretion e.g. glands
–Sensation e.g. olfactory (smell) neuroepithelium
–Contractility e.g. myoepithelial cells
 Body Tissues Cont..,
Characteristics of Epithelial Tissues:
• Not penetrated by blood vessels
• Rests on a basement membrane
• Bound to adjacent cells by cell junctions
• Regenerative capacity
• Polarity: have both apical and basal
surfaces
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
• Basement membrane: An amorphous extracellular
layer closely applied to the basal surface of
epithelium and also investing muscle cells, fat cells,
and Schwann cells; thought to be a selective filter
and to serve both structural and morphogenetic
functions.
• It is composed of three successive layers (lamina
lucida, lamina densa, and lamina fibroreticularis), a
matrix of collagen (of which type IV is unique to this
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
Classification of epithelial tissue:
• This is based on morphological characteristics of the cells.
a) Number of cell layers:
– Single cell layer: called simple epithelium e.g. simple
squamous epithelium of the inner wall of the blood
vessels.
– Multiple cell layers: called stratified epithelium e.g.
stratified squamous epithelium of the vagina.
NB: In stratified epithelium, the shape of the outermost
layer of cells determines the description.
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
Classification of epithelial tissue cont:
b) Geometry/cell shape: this entails appearance of
sections taken at right angles to the epithelial
surface. The cells can be:
– Squamous/flattened/sheet like
– Cuboidal
– Columnar
c) Surface specialization: if any e.g. cilia, keratin. The
skin has stratified squamous keratinized epithelium.
 NB: Glandular epithelium
• Epithelium involved with secretion.
• Glands are invaginations of epithelial surfaces
formed as a proliferation of underlying
epithelial cells during embryonic life.
• The gastrointestinal tract is a classical
glandular epithelium.
 Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
SIMPLE EPITHELIA:
• Surface epithelia with a single layer of cells.
• Found in areas involved with selective diffusion, absorption
and secretion.
• Cells of simple epithelium can take any form, from: simple
columnar, simple cuboidal and simple squamous
• All this dictated by their function e.g. simple squamous
epithelium found in air sacs of the lung, blood vessels, lining
of body cavities.
• Simple epithelia may have specialized structures on their
 Types of simple epithelium:
a) Simple squamous epithelium:
• These are flattened, irregularly shaped single layer of cells
forming a continuous layer i.e. sheet like. It is
supported/rests on a basement membrane.
• Sites:
– Alveoli
– Endothelium: epithelial lining of blood vessels and
lymphatic’s
– Mesothelium: epithelial lining of serous body cavities
 Fig: Simple squamous epithelium

NB: a) Simple squamous epithelium b) Endothelium (E) Epithelial cell c) Simple squamous epithelia of alveoli (N) nucleus
 Types of simple epithelium cont:
b) Simple cuboidal epithelium:
• An intermediate between simple squamous and simple columnar
epithelium. On a section at right angles to the basement
membrane, they appear square shaped hence the name
cuboidal, whereas on surface view they appear polygonal. The
nucleus is round and eccentric.
Sites:
– Lines small ducts and tubules with excretory, secretory and
absorptive function
– Collecting ducts of the kidneys
– Excretory ducts of pancreas and salivary glands
 Fig: Simple cuboidal epithelium

NB: BM (Basement Membrane)

c) Simple columnar epithelium:
• The cells are taller and appear columnar in sections at right angle
to the basement membrane as compared to simple cuboidal.
• Nuclei are elongated and located either at the base, apex or center
of the cytoplasm.
• Some simple columnar epithelium can be ciliated e.g. the epithelia
of the oviduct. These finger like projections of the cell membrane
exhibit motion that propels the ovum along the fallopian tubes.
• Sites
– Lining of the intestines
– Oviducts
– Gall bladder
Types of simple epithelium cont:
Simple columnar epithelium cont:
Functions:
–Protection
–Lubrication
–Absorption
–Secretion
Fig 1: Simple columnar epithelium
Fig 2: Simple columnar ciliated epithelium
 Pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium:
• Pseudo means false.
• The term pseudostratified is due to the appearance of this
epithelium in section.
• It gives an impression there is more than one layer of cells. In
reality, its only one layer with all the cells resting on the basement
membrane.
• The distinguishing feature from stratified epithelium is that
stratified epithelium is never ciliated and the nuclei polarity in
pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium is two thirds basal.
Sites: Lining of trachea, bronchi and nasal cavity
Function: Protection, Secretion
Fig: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

NB: C (Cilia), BM (Basement membrane)

Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
STRATIFIED EPITHELIA:
• Epithelia with more than one cell layer.
• They mainly offer a protective function.
• The number of layers is dependent on the degree of
physical stress on the epithelia.
• Classification is based on the morphology of surface
cells as basal cells are usually cuboidal in shape.
• NB: Transitional epithelium is a specialized stratified
epithelium found in the urinary tract.
 a) Stratified squamous epithelium
• Consists of several layers with different maturation stages
upwards from the basement membrane (BM) with the
basement membrane attached cells being cuboidal in
shape and surface cells being flat (squamous).
• The surface cells are continuously being shed off. This
epithelium is adapted to withstand great amounts of sheer
stress and harsh environment.
Sites:
• Oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and anal canal
• Uterine cervix and vagina.
 Stratified squamous epithelium cont:
• The skin is made up of keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.
• The cell membrane of the surface cells of this epithelium is
impregnated with the protein keratin thus providing an
epithelia that can withstand abrasion and other physical
stress.
• Non-keratinized stratified epithelium can undergo
keratinization if exposed continuously to mechanical stress
not equivalent to its resilience e.g. the stratified squamous
epithelia of the oral cavity in a patient with loose fitting
 Fig: Stratified squamous epithelium

NB: a) Stratified squamous epithelium b) Stratified squamous epithelium

c)Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium d)Scrapped cells from the cervix
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
b) Stratified cuboidal epithelium
• The cells appear cuboidal in shape and are in
layers
Site:
– Sweat glands and developing ovarian follicles
Function:
– secretion
– protection
Fig: Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
C) Transitional epithelium/uroepithelium
• Found in the urinary tract and specialized to
accommodate stretch and tolerate toxicity of
urine
• Its name derives from its intermediate
(transition) form between stratified cuboidal
and stratified squamous epithelium
Fig: Transitional epithelium/Uroepithelium

NB: U (Uroepithelium), BM (Basement membrane)

 Epithelia (Medical Application)
• Metaplasia: Abnormal transformation of an adult, fully
differentiated tissue of one kind into a differentiated tissue of
another kind; an acquired condition.
• This is usually an adaptability change e.g. Squamous metaplasia in
cigarette smokers: there is a change from pseudostratified columnar
epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. Vitamin A deficiency
may also induce squamous metaplasia of respiratory epithelium.
• The squamous metaplastic changes are more protective from
physical injury but it leads to impaired mucous secretion (goblet
cells) and ciliary clearance of particulate matter that predisposes to
recurrent upper respiratory infections among cigarette smokers.
• Hence, Epithelial metaplasia is a double edged sword.
Body Tissues (Basic Types & Classification) Cont..,
CONNECTIVE/SUPPORTING TISSUE:
• A basic tissue type of mesodermal origin and offers
structural and metabolic support to other tissues and
organs.
• Structurally it has three components i.e. cells, protein
fibers and ground substance. NB: The other tissue types ie.
Muscle, Epithelial and Nerves are mainly formed by cells.
• Connective tissue is mainly formed by Extracellular matrix
i.e. protein fibers (collagen, reticular and elastic) and
ground substance.
Connective tissue cell lineage (Non-haemopoietic)
• All cells of connective tissue are derived from precursor
cells in the primitive supporting tissue (mesenchyme).
They all have different functions with the dominant
common function being synthesis and maintenance of
extracellular material.
Fibroblast:
• Most common cells of extracellular matrix and
synthesizes extracellular matrix components ie.
(collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans,
multi-adhesive glycoproteins)
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
Fibroblast Functions:
– Synthesis of extracellular matrix components
– Synthesis of growth factors (factors that influence cell
growth and differentiation).
• Fibroblasts are either active or quiescent (fibrocytes). An
active fibroblast has an elaborate cytoplasm, active
nucleolus, expansive endoplasmic reticulum and prominent
golgi complex all these geared to synthesis of extracellular
matrix and growth factors.
• In contrast, fibrocytes are smaller that fibroblasts with less
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
Collagen:
• it is the main fiber type in connective tissue and the most
abundant protein in the body.
• It is secreted into the extracellular matrix as tropocollagen
which polymerizes in the extracellular matrix to form
collagen.
• Twenty seven different types have been described.
Notably, among major collagen types include: Type I, Type
II, Type III, Type IV, & Type VII
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
– Type I: found in the dermis of the skin, tendons,
ligaments, bone. It offers tensile strength to tissues.
– Type II: found in hyaline cartilage (joints).
– Type III: makes up the fiber type reticulin which forms
a fiber meshwork in highly cellular tissues e.g. bone
marrow, lymphoid organs.
– Type IV: an important constituent of basement
membrane.
– Type VII: forms anchoring fibrils that link to basement
membrane.
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
Elastin:
• A structural protein arranged as fibers in extracellular
matrix.
• It is found in blood vessels, skin, lung, urinary bladder ie.
stretch areas.
• It has elastic recoil capacity. It is secreted as tropoelastin
in the extracellular matrix then polymerizes to elastin.
• It enables return to normal tissue shape following
physiological deformation e.g. during respiration and post
voiding of urine.
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
Ground Substance:
• An amorphous transparent material in a semi-fluid gel
phase.
• It is composed of a mixture of long unbranched
polysaccharide chains e,g. hyaluronic acid, chondroitin IV
sulphate, chondroitin VI sulphate, dermatan sulphate,
heparin sulphate, keratan sulphate.
• They are hydrated thus forming a flexible gel through
which materials are exchanged.
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
Adipocytes:
• Lipid storing cells whose origin is the primitive
mesenchyme where they develop as lipoblasts.
• Adipose tissue is an inactive energy source. It has
rich blood supply.
• Rate of fat deposition is highly dependent on
dietary intake, energy expenditure, hormones and
activity on sympathetic nervous system.
 Connective/Supporting Tissue Cont:
• There are two main types of adipose tissue:
– White adipose tissue: comprises 20-25% of total body
weight. Distributed throughout the body, more so in
deep layers of the skin where it acts as a thermo
insulator and cushions against mechanical shock as in
around the kidneys.
– Brown adipose tissue: mainly found in newborns
where it plays a role in thermoregulation. Only small
amounts are found in adults.
 Medical application of Adipose Tissue:
– Obesity: other than fat storage, adipocytes have a
secretory/endocrine function. They secrete leptin that plays a
role in lipid metabolism. Factors that increase the mass of
adipocytes can contribute to obesity or metabolic syndrome.
Mutations in leptin gene and leptin receptors have been linked
to obesity.
– Lipoma: a benign soft tissue tumor as a result of adipocyte
overgrowth. Histologically, uniloculor white adipose tissue is
seen.
– Liposarcoma: a highly aggressive malignant tumor of
adipocytes commonly arising deep within retroperitoneal
Medical Applications of Connective Tissues
• Collagen disorders: this follows mutations in the genes
coding for collagen thus leading to defective collagen
synthesis. This results in reduced tensile strength in
supporting tissues which manifests as abnormal joint
laxity, friability of skin, fragility of cutaneous blood
vessels e.g. Marfans syndrome, Ehler Danlos syndrome.
• Wound healing/tissue repair: fibroblasts are the main
cell type involved in wound healing and regeneration.
Connective tissue cell lineage (Haemopoietic)
 Haemopoietic Connective Tissue Cell Lineage
• **The haematopoietic connective tissue cell lineage is
dealt with in the topic blood and blood constituents.
• Blood -Dfn: a variety of cells suspended in plasma
within blood vessels.
• It plays a great role in homeostasis (maintenance of a
constant internal body environment).
• Amongst its function include: transport of blood gases,
nutrients, waste products and messengers, distribution
of heat.
Haemopoietic Connective Tissue Cell Lineage Cont..,
• The circulating blood volume is approximately 7%
of total body weight (roughly 12 pints; 5000 mls).
• Approximately 55% of blood is plasma; of which
90% of this is water, 8% protein, 1% inorganic
salts, 0.1% sugar.
• Laboratory analysis of blood plays a great role in
diagnosis of diverse haematological disorders.
Haemopoietic Connective Tissue Cell Lineage Cont..,
**Plasma proteins:
• Comprise of pre-albumin, albumin, globulins (alpha, beta
and gamma) and fibrinogen (coagulation protein)
• They are mainly synthesized in the liver apart from gamma
(γ) globulins.
• Globulins play a role in immunity (γ-globulins), haemostasis
(fibrinogen)
• Albumin ensures maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure
(prevents fluid shift across transcellular space
• Fibrinogen plays role in haemostasis (blood clotting
 Haemopoietic Connective Tissue Cell Lineage Cont..,
Haematopoiesis: formation of blood cells, a continuous process
throughout life that occurs in bone marrow
• Three major functional classes:-
– Red blood cells (Rbc’s), White blood cells (Wbc’s) and Platelets
(Thrombocytes).
• They all originate from the bone marrow (red bone marrow)
• Two types of bone marrow; red (haemopoietic) and yellow
marrow (fat production majorly)
• NB: Haemopoietic Connective Tissue: To Be Covered Indepth in
Medical Physiology I (Under Topic Blood & its Constituents)
Fig: Haemopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation
The End….
Thank You….