Histology:
The Study of Tissues
Tissues
• A group of closely
associated cells that
perform related functions
and are similar in
structure
• Four types-
– epithelium (covering)
– connective (support)
– muscle (movement)
– nervous (control)
2
Extracellular Matrix
• Extracellular Protein
Fibers
• Ground substance-
syrup like fluid
– ECF
– Interstitial fluid
– Tissue fluid
So lets summarize:
• Tissues- cells and extra
cellular matrix (fibers
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and ground substance).
Interpreting tissue sections
• Histological sections are
prepared by a microtome
(thin slices of the tissue);
smears; spreads
• fixative
• Dehydrated (might occur
with fixation stage)
• stained
• Review your planes and
be sure you can “see”
how to put a tissue back
together!
4
Epithelia and Glands
• Epithelium is a sheet of cells
that covers a body surface or
lines a body cavity
– Inner lining of stomach and
viscera, respiratory tubes,
peritoneal cavity, inner
lining of blood vessels,
most of body’s glands
• Occur at interfaces between
two different environments,
provide a boundary
• Protect and provide sensory
information, secrete,
absorption, ion transport, form
slippery surfaces 5
Special Characteristics of Epithelia
6.
1. Cellularity- composed of cells with minimal extracellular material
2. Attachment- anchored to a basement membrane
3. Polarity- free edge (apical) and lower (basal) surface.
4. Avascular but innervated- lack blood vessels but do receive
nerve endings
5. Regeneration: Friction resistance! Constantly being rubbed off 6
and replaced.
Classification of Epithelia
Number of layers
Shape
ALWAYS LOOK AT APICAL LAYER 7
• Single layer of cells Simple Epithelia
• Important for passive
diffusion (squamous) or
absorption/secretion
(cuboidal or columnar)
• Special cases:
– endothelium (found in
heart and blood
vessels)
– mesothelium (lines
serosal cavities)
– Pseudostratified
columnar- all cells
touch basement
membrane!
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Simple Squamous
Epithelium
• Common sites of
diffusion and
filtration
• Alveoli
• Endothelium of
blood capillaries
• Glomerulus
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
• Functions in secretion
and absorption
• Kidney tubules
• Ducts of salivary
glands, thyroid gland,
pancreas
10
Simple Columnar Epithelium
• Specialized for
absorption
• Presence of goblet
cells ( secrete mucus)
• Gastrointestinal tract
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Pseudostratified Columnar
Epithelium
• Protection, secretion,
ciliary movement
• often ciliated
• Many goblet cells
• Lines passages of
respiratory system-
trachea, bronchi
12
Stratified Epithelia- 2 or more
layers
• More durable and
major role is
protection
• Regenerate from
below
• Keratinized
(waterproofed by
dead layer of cells-
skin) vs. non-
keratinized
(esophagus, vagina-) 13
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
• Protection ( wear and
tear areas)
• Outer layers flattened
• Blocks various
chemicals and
microorganisms from
entering
• Found in mouth,
esophagus, nasal
cavity, anus, vagina,
skin 14
Transitional Epithelium
• Lines the inside of
hollow urinary
organs (bladder)
and umbilical cord
• Allows for
distention
(stretching)
• Thus, it goes
through
“transitions” in
shape. 15
Connective Tissue
• Most abundant
– Connective tissue proper
– Supportive (cartilage and bone)
– Fluid (blood and lymph)
• Function- connect cells, form skeleton (lever system),
store and carry nutrients, surround all the blood vessels
and nerves of the body, fight against infection, heat
production, physical protection.
• Cells always separated by a large amount of nonliving
extracellular material (extracellular matrix)
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• Originate from mesoderm (mesenchyme).
Types of Connective tissue
Connective tissues
Connective tissue proper (fibrous) Fluid Supporting
Loose Dense Blood lymph cartilage bone
Fibers create Fibers densely Solid, rubber
loose, open packed Solid,
Contained in Contained in matrix
framework crystalline
Cardiovascular lymphatic
system system matrix
Areolar Regular
Adipose 17
Irregular
reticular
Cells you would find in Connective
Tissue Proper
• Fibroblasts- produce fibers and
ground substance that forms
the matrix
• Macrophages (derived from
monocytes- a type of WBC)
• Mesenchymal cells
• Leukocytes (WBC)
• Mast cells-
– Histamine- increases blood
flow by dilating blood
vessels
– Heparin- inhibits blood
clotting
• Adipocytes (fat cells)
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Fibers you would find in
Fibrous Connective Tissue
• Collagenous fibers- white
fibers, tough and flexible
(resist stretching)
• Reticular fibers- thin
collagen fibers--Form
sponge-like framework
(spleen and lymph nodes)
• Elastic- Allows stretching
and recoiling (rubber band)
– Lungs, skin, arteries
– Elasticity- NOT the
ability to stretch, rather
the ability to recoil when
released) 19
Areolar connective tissue (model type)
• Support and binding
of tissues
• Holding body fluids
• Defending the body
against infection
• Storing nutrients as
fat
• Waste removal
20
Other loose connective tissues
• Adipose tissue - function
is to store nutrients.
Highly vascularized.
Mostly found in
hypodermis (tela
subcutanea)
• Reticular Connective
tissue – resembles
areolar tissue, but only
has reticular fibers in
extracellular matrix.
spleen, lymph nodes,
thymus and bone marrow 21
Dense Connective Tissue
• Dense irregular
connective tissue- similar
to areolar tissue, but
collagen fibers much
thicker. Two layers
running perpendicular to
each other.
• Dense regular connective
tissue- fibers run in the
same direction- parallel to
the direction of pull
(ligaments, tendons,
aponeuroses, elastic
tissue)
22
Cartilage
• Resist compression
and tension
• no blood vessels or
nerves.
– Hyaline-most
abundant
– Elastic
– fibrocartilage
23
Cartilage
• Hyaline cartilage – (glass) – most abundant cartilage,
many delicate collagen fibrils
– Provides support through flexibility
– Epiphyseal plates, fetal skeleton, trachea, larynx
• Elastic cartilage – contains many elastic fibers and
collagen fibrils
– Able to tolerate repeated bending
– Ear, external auditory canal, epiglottis
• Fibrocartilage – resists strong compression and strong
tension
– An intermediate between hyaline and elastic cartilage, many
thick collagen fibers
– Intervertebral discs, menisci, pubic symphysis.
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• matrix contains inorganic
calcium salts and Bone
collagen fibers.
• Spongy- heads of long
bones
• Compact
• Haversian system
(osteon)
– Central canal (Haversian
canal)
– Lacunae
– Lamellae
– Canaliculi
– Osteocytes
– Periosteum
– Osteoblasts
– osteoclasts
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• Fluid ground substance
Blood
• Transports nutrients,
wastes, gases
• Erythrocytes (RBCs)
• Leukocytes (WBCs)-
neutrophils,
eosinophils, basophils,
monocytes,
lymphocytes (T and B
cells)
• Platelets
(thrombocytes)
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Muscle
• Movement
• Posture/joint
stability
• Heat Production
• Communication
(facial muscles)
• Control of body
openings
27
3 Classes of Muscle
Based on histological
appearance and function
• Skeletal
– Striated, voluntary,
myofibers
• Cardiac
– Striated, involuntary,
branched, cardiocytes
• Smooth
– Non-striated, involuntary,
fusiform in shape (spindle)
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Skeletal Muscle
• Striated
• Voluntary
• Multi-nucleated
29
Cardiac Muscle
• Striated
• Involuntary
• Branched
• “Cardiocytes”
30
Smooth Muscle
• Smooth (non-striated)
• Involuntary
• Fusiform (spindle
shaped)
31
Nervous Tissue
• Conductive cell = neuron
• Receives/transmits
electrochemical
impulses
• Dendrites, body (soma),
axon
• Glial cells (supportive)
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• Homework: Pages 23- 24, due next
meeting
