HUMAN HISTOLOGY LABORATORY MIDTERM NOTES
Jay-Ann Abila 2nd Year – 3rd Semester
MED-244
TOPIC 2: MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF EPITHELIAL CELLS
EPITHELIAL TISSUE
General information Functions Intercellular adhesion and junction
➢ The epithelial tissues cover ➢ Covering, lining, and ➢ Several membrane-associated
external body surfaces. protecting structures provide adhesion and
➢ Provide lining of the internal o Epidermis communication between cells.
surfaces ➢ Absorption ➢ Epithelial cells adhere strongly to
➢ Cells are arranged very closely o Intestinal lining neighboring cells and basal laminae,
with little intercellular substance ➢ Secretion - hormones particularly in epithelia subject to
between friction or other mechanical forces.
➢ Parenchymal cells of glands
➢ Arranged as sheets covering or
lining surfaces as masses of cells Categories Specialized intercellular junctions
as in glands. ➢ Simple epithelium ➢ Tight or junction (occluding junction)
➢ From the Greek word ➢ Stratified epithelium AKA Zonula occludens
o Epi “upon” ➢ Glandular or pyramidal o Form a seal between
o Thele “nipple” - because epithelium adjacent cells
it first founded in nipple o To control the passage of
Specialized structure of tissue
➢ Epithelial tissues cover external molecules to control each
➢ Microvilli
body surfaces cell
o For absorption
➢ Provide lining of the internal ➢ Adherens junctions (anchoring
o Usually line in small
surfaces junction) AKA zonula adherens
intestine
Terminologies o site of strong cell adhesion.
o It demonstrates
➢ Epithelial Cells – aggregated uniformity. o Its strengthen and stabilize
polyhedral o Containn near by type junction and
➢ ECM – extracellular matrix – small microfilaments helps cell hold together.
amount ➢ Cilia ➢ Desmosome (Anchoring junction)
➢ Avascular – no blood vessels o Longer than AKA macula adherens
➢ Zonula – indicates that the microvilli and motile o Looks like a spot like disk
junction forms a band encircling o Hair -like shape.
each cell. o For propelling fluid o For adhesion as well but
(mucus) only supplements the
o Contain internal adherens junction
array which is the o To maintain the integrity of
microtubules the epithelium
➢ Hemidesmosome (Anchoring
junction) AKA Half desmosome
o Often anchors the
cystoskeleton to the basal
lamina.
➢ Gap junction (communicating
junction) AKA Nexus
o Allow the direct transfer of
small molecules and ions
from one cellsto another
Classification
Number of cell layer Morphological structure (shape)
➢ Squamous
➢ Simple
o Thin or flat
o One layer only that is attached to basement
➢ Cuboidal
membrane.
o Cube-like shape
➢ Stratified
➢ Columnar
o 2 or more layers
o Brick like he cells are taller
Simple Epithelium
➢ Composed on one layer of cells all attached to the basement membrane
Simple Squamous Epithelium
Location
➢ Lining of the vessels
(endothelium)
➢ Lining of cavities (mesothelium)
o Pleura
o Pericardium
o peritoneum
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Location
➢ gland
➢ ducts
➢ covering of the ovaries
➢ thyroid
➢ kidney tubules
Characteristic
➢ Spherical nucleus
Simple columnar Epithelium
Location
➢ Respiratory tract
➢ Intestinal tract
Characteristic
➢ Elongated nucleus
Goblet cells
➢ Cup like
➢ column-shaped cell found in the
respiratory and intestinal tracts.
➢ Secretes the main component of
mucus (Mucin) and to create a
protective mucus layer
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Location (ciliated)
➢ Lines the respiratory tract
➢ Parts of the reproductive tracts
Function
➢ Protection
➢ Secretion
➢ Movement of mucus and sex cells
Characteristic
➢ The nuclei have different levels.
➢ Not all cells reach the surface
From epididymis
Simple Epithelium
➢ Composed of more than one layer of cells
➢ Only the basal cells are attached to the basement membrane
Stratified Squamous Epithelium (Non-keratinized)
Location
➢ opening of the mouth,
➢ esophagus, and
➢ vagina
Stratified Squamous Epithelium keratinized)
Location
➢ epidermis of the skin
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
Location
➢ sweat gland or ducts
Stratified Columnar Epithelium
Location
➢ male urethra
➢ conjunctiva
➢ excretory ducts
Transitional Epithelium
Location
➢ excretory passage of the urinary
tract
o ureter,
o urinary bladder and
o urethra
Characteristic
➢ Mixed of cuboidal and columnar
➢ capable of stretching
Epithelial Tissue
Grandular or pyramidal Epithelium
➢ Exocrine glands and endocrine glands
o Exocrine – have tubular ducts
o Endocrine – no tubular ducts
Serous Glandular Epithelium
Location
➢ Pancreas
➢ parotid glands
Function
➢ synthesize protein
➢ digestive enzyme
Mucous glandular epithelium
Location
➢ sublingual glands (oral cavity)
Characteristic
➢ almond shape
Mixed Glandular epithelium
Location
➢ Submaxillary glands
➢ Submandibular salivary gland
o Mixed gland containing
cells that produce both
serous and mucous
secretions.
