EPITHELIUM

EPITHELIUM & GLANDULAR TISSUE

LEARNING OUTCOMES
• At the end of the lecture the student must be able to
– Define epithelium
– Classify epithelium
– Describe structure of different types of epithelium with examples
– Explain about the structure of basement membrane
– Describe the various functions of epithelium in relation to their location

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 EPITHELIUM

• It’s a type of tissue with one or more layers of cells lining

the
– Outer surface of the body
– Luminal surface of cavities
– Also lines the ducts and glands (Secretory function)
– And lying on - Basement membrane

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 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 of the body from abrasion
and injury
• Transcellular transport of molecules across the epithelial
layers.
• Secretion of mucous, hormones, enzymes from various
glands.
• Absorption of material from the lumen (eg; intestinal tract or
certain kidney tubules).
• Control of movement of materials between body
compartments via selective permeability of intercellular
junction between epithelial cells.
• Detection of sensations via taste buds, retina of the eye and
specialized hair cells in the ear – specialized epithelium
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 CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM
SQUAMOUS

SIMPLE CUBOIDAL WITH (OR) WITHOUT MICROVILLI

WITH (OR) WITHOUT MICROVILLI /

COLUMNAR
CILIA

EPITHELIAL TISSUE

PSEUDO-
STRATIFIED

STR.SQM.
STR. KERATINIZED
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS

STR.SQM.NON-
COMPOUND KERATINIZED
TRANSITIONAL STR.
COLUMNAR

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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
 SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
• Thin layer of flat cells, width is more than the height
• Nucleus is flat, seen as a bulge on the cell surface
• Thin layer of cytoplasm
• When seen from the surface it has polygonal outline
• Locations
– Pulmonary alveoli
– As endothelium in Lymphatics, blood vessels
– Mesothelium - Pleura, Pericardium, Peritoneum
– Loop of Henle
– Parietal layer of Bowman's capsule
• Function:
– The simple squamous epithelium is for the diffusion

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SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

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 SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
• Rectangular in shape, height is more than width
• Nucleus seen near the base of the cell
• It can have specialized structures on its surface
– Simple columnar epithelium - stomach and large intestine
– Ciliated columnar epithelium - Respiratory tract, efferent duct of
testis, uterus
– Microvillus - Striated border type of columnar epithelium -
small intestine
– Microvillus - Brush border type of columnar epithelium - gall
bladder
– Secretory columnar cells - Stomach and Intestines – goblet cells

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SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

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 CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

• Single layer,
• Height and width are
equal
• Centrally placed nucleus
• Seen in the germinal
epithelium of ovary,
thyroid follicles, inner
surface of the lens,
pigment layer of retina

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 PSEUDO STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

• Single layer of cells with difference in their heights

• All the cells are attached to the basement membrane
• Some cells are short and do not reach up to the surface
• The taller cells reach to the surface.
• The nucleus of the cells appear to be of different heights giving
the impression of a stratified epithelium.
• This type of epithelium is seen in the male urethra, epididymis
and large excretory ducts of glands
• PSEUDOSTRATIFIED CILIATED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
– Trachea and large bronchi

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PSEUDO STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

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 STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

• Seen where there is maximum friction and cells constantly replaced

• Made of several layers of cells - the epithelium appear thick
• Cells of deeper layer are attached to the basal lamina.
• Basal cells (deep) are columnar in shape,
• Intermediate (middle) layers the cells are polyhedral in shape.
• Superficial cells are flattened (Squamous)
• Two types.
• Non keratinized Stratified Squamous epithelium
– Lining of the mouth , oral pharynx, esophagus, true vocal folds, vagina and
epiglottis. Surface is usually wet.
• Keratinized stratified Squamous epithelium
– There is a layer of keratin at the superficial layer
– Surface is dry. Skin of the whole body

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STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM – NON
KERATINISED

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STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM - KERATINISED

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 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.

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TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM

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 STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

• Polyhedral to cuboidal
cells.
• Deeper layer in contact
with the basal lamina
• Superficial layer of
columnar cells.
• Eg: conjunctiva of the eye,
large excretory ducts of
the glands and regions of
male urethra.

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 STRATIFIED CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

• Two layers of
cuboidal cells.
• Eg: lining of the
ducts of sweat
glands

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 Epithelial Interactions
Lateral Interactions:
– Tight junctions (Zonula occludens)
– Adhesive Junctions (Macula adherens (Desmosomes) and zonula
adherens, fascia adherens)
– Gap junctions (communicating junctions)
• Basal Surface Features:
– Hemidesmosomes
– Basement Membrane

• Apical features:
– Cilia
– Microvilli
– Flagella
– Stereocilia
Lateral Epithelial Interactions
 Lateral Surface Features: Tight Junctions

• Integral proteins of adjacent cells fuse together

• Completely encircle the cell and form an adhesion
belt.
• Form an impermeable junction.
• Common near apical region
Tight Junction
 Lateral Interactions: Desmosomes
• Desmosomes – two disc-like plaques connected across
intercellular space

– Plaques of adjoining cells are joined by proteins called

cadherins
– Proteins interdigitate into extracellular space
– Intermediate filaments insert into plaques from cytoplasmic
side
•Linker proteins extend from plaque like teeth of a zipper.
•Intermediate filaments extend across width of cell.
• Reduces chance of tearing, twisting, stretching
Lateral Interactions: Desmosomes
 Gap Junction
• Connexon proteins are trans-membrane proteins.
• Present in electrically excitable tissues (heart, smooth
muscle)
• Allows communication between adjacent cells
Lateral Interactions: Gap Junction
 Basal Interactions: Basement Membrane

• Noncellular supporting sheet between the

epithelium and the connective tissue deep to it
• Consists of proteins secreted by the epithelial
cells
• Functions:
– Acts as a selective filter, determining which
molecules from capillaries enter the epithelium
– Acts as scaffolding along which regenerating
epithelial cells can migrate
Basement Membrane
Hemidesmosome
 Apical Interactions
– Microvilli – finger-like extensions of plasma membrane
• Abundant in epithelia of small intestine and kidney
• Maximize surface area across which small molecules
enter or leave
– Cilia – whip-like, highly motile extensions of apical
surface membranes
– Movement of cilia – in coordinated waves
– Flagella
– Stereocilia
 Apical Interactions
Cilia Microvilli
 Apical Interactions
flagella stereocilia