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The human body contains about 100 trillion cells. However, no one cell can carry out all the necessary bodily functions by itself. So, cells aggregate and form TISSUES Tissue Collection of cells with a similar structure and function. The study of tissues is known as histology
Tissues
There are 4 primary tissue types in the human body: 1. Epithelial (covering/lining) 2. Connective (support) 3. Muscle (movement) 4. Nervous (control) These tissues differ in the types and functions of their cells, and the products of those cells and the relative distribution of the two. Which picture on this slide corresponds to which tissue?
Epithelial Tissue
Covers the surface of the body, lines the body cavities, forms the external and internal linings of most organs, and constitutes the bulk of most glands. Functions include: 1. Protection 4. Absorption 2. Secretion 5. Filtration 3. Sensory reception Its found all over the place! On the right we have a section of skin. Where would the bulk of the epithelial tissue be found?
Characteristics of Epithelia
Composed almost entirely of sheets of close-packed cells very little extracellular material.
Look at the cartoon below (it represents the epithelium that lines much of your respiratory tract) . Do you see much space between these cells? Now look at the actual slide and notice the same thing.
Epithelial cells are often strongly connected to adjacent cells via tight junctions and desmosomes:
Tight junctions are protein complexes that completely encircle a cell and thus connect it to all its neighboring cells and makes it impossible for anything to pass btwn them. Common in lining of the stomach & intestines. (Why here?) Desmosomes spot weld that holds cells together and enables a tissue to resist mechanical stress. Common in the epidermis and cervix. (Why these 2 areas?)
Characteristics of Epithelia
Polarity
Different areas of epithelial cells have different structures. (If they have different structures, they can have different ___________) The area of an epithelial cell adjacent to the exterior or to a body cavity is the apical side and the opposite area is the basal side.
In the picture at the top right, what is present in the basal portion of the cell thats not in the apical portion?
We classify epithelia based on the number of cell layers present and the shape of the cells in the apical layer. If there is only one layer of cells, the epithelium is simple. If there is more than one layer, the epithelium is stratified. There are 3 cell shapes:
1. 2. 3. Squamous = flat, scale-like Cuboidal = cube-shaped Columnar = column-shaped
Epithelia Types
You can see that weve got at least 6:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Simple squamous Simple cuboidal Simple columnar Stratified squamous Stratified cuboidal Stratified columnar
There are actually 2 other ones that are special transitional epithelium and pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
Serous membranes External lining of visceral organs Here its called the mesothelium
Endothelium
The blue arrow points directly at the nucleus of an endothelial cell. What type of cell does the yellow arrow indicate?
Secretion of a lubricating fluid by the epithelium making up the serous membranes (well talk about them soon).
Above, we have a longitudinal section of a kidney tubule. Notice the almost square-shaped cells . One cell is highlighted for you in red.
Liver
Secretion
Kidney tubules Liver Pancreas Thyroid, salivary, and most other glands
Secretion of mucus.
Lots of goblet cells in the large intestine so as to lubricate it and ease the passage of feces.
This is keratinized stratified squamous epithelium from the sole of the foot. It extends the length of the blue line on the left. Notice the multiple layers of clear, dead, enucleated cells.
Non-keratinized version (a.k.a., wet epithelium) also protects from mechanical abrasion.
Eating food, swallowing, sexual intercourse, birth, defecation.
Locations:
Some sweat gland ducts. Ovarian follicle
Cells that surround the developing egg
To the left, we have an oocyte (egg cell) surrounded by stratified cuboidal epithelium. The oocyte is circled in blue
Locations:
Rare. Small portions of anal canal, pharynx, epiglottis, and male urethra. Sometimes seen in large ducts of sweat and salivary glands.
Functions:
Often seen where 2 other tissue types meet Structural integrity of gland ducts
Cells are of varying heights which gives the appearance of stratification. Nuclei are at several levels. Often has goblet cells interspersed. Cells often have cilia.
Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium from the respiratory tract. Do you see how it appears that there are multiple layers. Do you see the cilia (indicated by the arrow)?
Here, we have pathogens traveling down the pharynx trying to attack the surface cells. How can they be repelled???
The mucosal cells lining the trachea have released a flood of mucus, trapping the pathogens! Now what???
Transitional Epithelium
Microscopic Appearance:
Somewhat resembles stratified squamous epithelium, but the surface cells are rounded and often bulge above surface (domeshaped). Typically 5-6 cell layers thick when relaxed and 2-3 cell layers thick when stretched. Cells may be flatter and thinner when epithelium is stretched. Some cells are binucleate, i.e., they have 2 nuclei.
Transitional Epithelia
Locations:
Predominant epithelium lining the urinary tract Found in part of the kidney, the ureters (tubes that connect the kidney to the urinary bladder), the urinary bladder, and part of the urethra.
Functions:
Stretches to allow filling of the urinary tract. Originally called transitional because it was thought to be an intermediate between stratified squamous and stratified columnar epithelium. This isnt true but the name has persisted.
Glands
A gland is a cell or an organ that secretes substances for use inside or outside the body. Glands are composed predominantly of epithelial tissue. Glands are broadly classified as:
1. Endocrine 2. Exocrine
An exocrine gland
Exocrine Glands
Typically secrete material into ducts that lead to the body surface or to one of the cavities that is continuous with the body surface, i.e., digestive, reproductive, respiratory tract. Exo = outside and crine = secrete. The parotid gland (a salivary gland) Can be multicellular or unicellular.
Multicellular:
Pancreas, stomach, sweat glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, sebaceous glands, etc.
Unicellular:
Goblet cells. Goblet Cell
Endocrine Glands
Endo = within. Do not secrete material into ducts. Secrete chemical signals called hormones into the bloodstream where they travel through the body and affect other cells. Examples include:
Thyroid, thymus, testes, ovaries, pituitary, pineal, adrenal, etc.
Simple
Compound
Exocrine glands are further classified by the shape of their secretory portion as:
Tubular if the secretory portion is the same diameter as the duct. Alveolar if the secretory portion is like a round ball . Tubuloalveolar if its a combination of the 2.
Connective Tissue
Most abundant, widely distributed, and histologically variable of the 4 primary tissue types. Consists of cells that are typically widely separated by lots of extracellular material referred to as the extracellular matrix.
In the diagram above, compare the density of cells in the epithelial layers and in the connective tissue layers. Whats the difference?
Most cells are not in contact with each other but are distributed throughout the extracellular matrix.
Categories of CT
1. Fibrous connective tissue (a.k.a. connective tissue proper) Supporting connective tissue Fluid connective tissue
2. 3.
Bone
Blood
Fibroblasts
Fibro = fat, blast = making Large, flat cells with tapered ends; produce fibers and ground substance. Inactive ones are known as fibrocytes.
2.
Macrophages
Macro = large, phage = eating Large phagocytic cells that wander through connective tissue, where they engulf and destroy bacteria, other foreign particles, and dead or dying cells of our own body. They activate the immune system when they encounter foreign matter called antigens. Derived from white blood cells known as monocytes.
Cells of Fibrous CT
3.
Leukocytes
Leuko = white, cyte = cell White blood cells that crawl out of the bloodstream and spend the majority of their time in the CT. Many are phagocytes that wander in search of pathogens.
4.
Plasma Cells
Certain white blood cells differentiate into plasma cells when they detect foreign agents. Plasma cells produce and secrete antibodies (proteins that bind to foreign molecules (antigens), thus inactivating them or marking them for future destruction.
Cells of Fibrous CT
5.
Mast Cells
Often found in CT adjacent to blood vessels. Secrete a chemical called heparin which is an anticoagulant and a chemical called histamine which is a vasodilator.
6.
Adipocytes
Adipo = fat Appear in small clusters in some fibroconnective tissues. If they dominate an area, we call that area adipose tissue. Contain huge droplets of lipids for storage.
Collagenous Fibers
Interwoven strands of the protein collagen.
The most abundant protein in the human body.
Thick fibers with great tensile strength i.e., its tough to pull them apart. In fresh tissue, they have a white appearance, so they are sometimes called white fibers. In stained slides, they are often pink and they usually appear quite wavy. Tendons, ligaments, and the deep layer of the skin (the dermis) are made primarily of collagenous fibers.
Reticular Fibers
A thinner collagen fiber coated with glycoproteins.
Stained black in the adjacent micrograph of the liver.
These fibers can branch extensively and form networks or frameworks for certain organs.
Elastic Fibers
Made primarily of a protein called elastin, whose coiled structure allows it to stretch and snap back like a rubber band. Account for the ability of the lungs, arteries, and skin to spring back after they are stretched. Fresh elastic fibers are yellowish and thus often called yellow fibers.
Ground Substance
Gelatinous material that occupies the space between the cells and the fibers in connective tissues.
Imagine some lime Jell-o that a not-so-bright chef decided to make with carrots and grapes. The carrots are like fibers, the grapes like cells, and the Jell-o itself is the ground substance/
Types of Loose CT
1. Areolar CT 2. Reticular Tissue 3. Adipose Tissue
2 3
Areolar CT
Microscopic Appearance:
Loose arrangement of collagenous and elastic fibers. Some reticular fibers. (All 3 fiber types.) Scattered Cells. All 6 types can be present. Abundant ground substance. Numerous blood vessels. (Highly vascular.)
Areolar CT
Locations:
Underlying nearly all epithelia. Surrounding blood vessels, nerves, trachea, and esophagus. Between muscles. Within mesenteries, and the visceral layers of the pericardium and the pleura.
Functions:
Loosely binds epithelia to deeper tissues. Allows passage of nerves and blood vessels through other tissues. Provides an arena for immune defense. Blood vessels provide nutrients and waste removal for overlying epithelia.
Areolar CT
Reticular Tissue
Microscopic Appearance:
Loose network of reticular fibers and a type of fibroblast known as the reticular cell. Infiltrated with numerous white blood cells. Often appears dark purple or black.
Locations:
Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow.
Reticular Tissue
Functions:
The branching network of reticular fibers will form a scaffold-like framework for lymphatic organs.
Spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes. Such a framework is known as a stroma. The functional tissue of these organs is known as the parenchyma.
Adipose Tissue
Microscopic Appearance:
Dominated by adipocytes large, empty-looking cells with thin margins. Nucleus usually pressed against the cell membrane signet ring appearance. Often pale. Blood vessels often present.
Adipose Tissue
Locations:
Subcutaneous fat beneath skin. Breast. Heart surface. Cushioning organs
Kidneys Eyes
Adipose Tissue
Functions: Energy storage. Thermal insulation. Shock absorption Protective cushioning for some organs.
Types of Dense CT
1. Dense regular 2. Dense irregular
2
Dense Regular CT
Microscopic Appearance:
Densely packed, parallel, often wavy collagenous fibers. Slender fibroblast nuclei compressed between bundles of collagenous fibers. Scanty open space (little ground substance) Scarcity of blood vessels.
NOTE the waviness of the fibers. What function could this structural aspect provide?
Dense Regular CT
Functions:
Ligaments bind bone tightly to other bones. Resist stress. Tendons attach skeletal muscles to bone and transfer muscular tension to bones.
Dense Irregular CT
Microscopic Appearance:
Densely packed, collagenous fibers running in random directions. Compare this to dense regular CT. Scanty open space (ground substance). Few visible cells. Scarcity of blood vessels.
Dense Irregular CT
Locations:
Deeper portion of dermis of skin. Capsules around visceral organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Fibrous sheaths around cartilages and bones.
Dense Irregular CT
Functions:
Provides a durable, hard to tear structure that can withstand stresses placed in unpredictable directions. Why arent tendons and ligaments made of this stuff?
Cartilage
Supportive CT with a flexible, rubbery matrix. Cells called chondroblasts secrete the matrix and surround themselves in it until they become trapped in little cavities known as lacunae (lacuna is Latin for lake). Once enclosed in lacunae, cells are called chondrocytes.
Cartilage
Cartilage is avascular and chondrocytes depend on the diffusion of nutrients through the stiff, viscous matrix.
Thus their metabolism and rate of division (a.k.a. mitosis) is low and healing of torn cartilage is a long process. Its avascular b/c chondrocytes produce a chemical called antiangiogenesis factor that, like its name suggests, prevents the growth of blood vessels.
Based on this, why do you suppose shark cartilage has been touted as a possible aid in the fight against cancer?
Cartilage matrix collagenous fibers that range in thickness from invisibly fine to conspicuously coarse.
Cartilage
3 types (classified based on fiber differences):
1. 2. 3. Hyaline Cartilage Elastic Cartilage Fibrocartilage.
Hyaline Cartilage
Microscopic Appearance:
Clear, glassy matrix, often stained light blue or pink.
Hyalos is Greek for glass.
Fine, dispersed collagenous fibers, not usually visible. Chondrocytes often in small clusters of 3-4 cells within a single lacuna (known as cell nests or isogenous groups). Covered by a perichondrium a fibrous sheath made of dense irregular connective tissue.
Hyaline Cartilage
Locations:
Forms the majority of the fetal skeleton. Forms boxlike structure around larynx and supportive rings around trachea and bronchi. Attaches ribs to the sternum. Forms a thin articular cartilage over the ends of bones at moveable joints.
Hyaline Cartilage
Functions:
Eases joint movements. Keeps airways patent. Moves vocal cords. Precursor of bone in the fetal skeleton. Structural attachment.
Elastic Cartilage
Microscopic Appearance:
Elastic fibers form web-like mesh amid lacunae. Always covered by a perichondrium.
Locations:
External ear. Epiglottis flap of tissue that covers the tracheas when you swallow to prevent food/liquid from going down the wrong pipe. Eustachian tube connects the ear to the nasopharynx.
Elastic Cartilage
Functions:
Provides flexible, elastic support. What happens when you bend and release your ear?
A Chondrocyte
B Matrix w/ black elastic fibers C -Lacuna
Fibrocartilage
Microscopic Appearance:
Parallel collagenous fibers similar to those of tendon. Rows of chondrocytes in lacunae between collagenous fibers.
Chondrocytes are fewer and smaller and are not in isogenous groups.
Locations:
Pubic symphysis the anterior joint between the 2 halves of the pelvic girdle. Intervertebral discs that separate the bones of the spinal column. Menisci (shock-absorbing pads of cartilage) in the knee joint. At points where tendons insert on bones near articular hyaline cartilage.
Fibrocartilage
Functions:
Resists compression and absorbs shock in some joints. Often a transitional structure between dense connective tissue and hyaline cartilage.
For example, at some tendon-bone junctions.
Muscular tissue
3 types: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Specialized to contract and exert forces on other tissues. Major function is the creation of movement.
Body Membranes
The majority of the bodys structures are lined by epithelial membranes.
Such structures include: body cavities, tracts, external surfaces of organs, and the external surface of the body itself.
Epithelial Membranes
Serosa covering the heart
Cutaneous Membrane
Skin! Its an organ system consisting of a keratinized squamous epithelium (epidermis) firmly attached to a thick layer of dense irregular connective tissue (dermis). Unlike other epithelial membranes, it is exposed to the air and is a dry membrane.
Wet membranes that are bathed by their own secretions or, in the case of the urinary tract, urine. Mucosae have 2 or occasionally 3 layers:
Lining epithelium (simple columnar or nonkeratinized stratified squamous) is adjacent to the lumen and above the:
Layer of areolar CT called the lamina propria which is sometimes above a:
Layer of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosae.
Have absorptive, secretory & protective functions. Often covered with mucus secreted by goblet cells, multicellular mucous glands, or both.
Mucous Membranes
Mucus is often involved in trapping foreign particles (including bacteria) or providing lubrication. The presence of mucus does not define a mucous membrane however e.g., the mucous membrane lining the urinary tract lacks mucus.
Cells modified for absorption are present in the small intestine Cells modified for protection are present mainly at those positions of the tracts closest to the exterior.
Consist of a simple squamous epithelium lying upon a thin layer of areolar CT. Secrete a thin, watery fluid that arises from the blood. Its called serous fluid.
Serosae
Provide an efficient means of lubricating cavity walls and organ exteriors so as to reduce the friction associated with movement.
Why is this essential?
The serosa lining the pleural cavity and the lung exterior are the parietal and visceral pleurae, respectively. Those of the heart are the parietal and visceral pericardium and those of the abdomen are the parietal and visceral peritoneum.
Tissue Repair
2 possibilities:
Regeneration Replacement of dead or damaged cells by the
same type of cells as before. Most skin injuries heal by regeneration. The liver also regenerates quite well. Fibrosis Replacement of damaged tissue with scar tissue, composed mainly of collagen produced by fibroblasts. Helps hold an organ together but does not restore normal function. Examples include severe cuts and burns, the healing of muscle injuries, and scarring of the lungs in tuberculosis.
2.
3.
A blood clot forms, loosely knitting the edges of the cut together and interfering with the spread of pathogens. Scab forms and seals the wound and blocks infection. Beneath it, macrophages begin to clean up tissue debris. New capillaries sprout from nearby vessels and grow into the wound. The deeper portions of the clot become infiltrated by capillaries and fibroblasts and transform into a soft mass called granulation tissue. Macrophages remove the blood clot while fibroblasts secrete collagenous fibers to replace it.