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©NTissue:
A group of cells similar in structure, function and origin. In a tissue cells my be dissimilar in
structure and function but they are always similar in origin.
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Epithelial Tissues
©N Epithelial tissues form the covering of internal and external surface of body and its organs.
Functions of epithelial tissues:
Protection: They protect the underlying tissues from mechanical injury, chemical
injury, microbial infection and drying up.
Covering: They provide covering of the body surface and organs.
Barriers: They act as barriers to check the entry of harmful organisms and materials.
Absorption, excretion and exchange: they help in absorption of water and nutrients,
excretion of waste products and exchange of gases.
Secretion: Some epithelial tissues are concerned with the secretion of substances, e.g.
enzymes, hormones.
Gametes formation: Germinal epithelium of testis and ovary produces gametes.
Exoskeleton: Epithelium also produces exoskeletal structures structures such as scales,
feathers, hairs, nails, etc.
Pigmentation: Pigmented epithelium of the retina darkens the cavity of eyeball.
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©N
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Simple h p Squamous Epithelium
©N – It is single layered.
– Cells are flat or scale like in shape
– A flattened/rounded nucleus present.
– It is also called pavement epithelium due to its tile like
appearance.
– This epithelium is associated with filtration & diffusion

Locations:

• Bowman's capsule (Podocyte)

• Alveoli of lungs (Pneumocytes)

• Small bronchioles

• Descending limb & thin part of ascending limb of loop of Henle

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Simple h p Cuboidal Epithelium
©N
– Basement membrane is present.
– Cells are cube like in shape
– A rounded nucleus is present in the
centre of cell.
– This epithelium helps in absorption,
secretion & excertion. It also form
gametes in gonads.
– Mostly cuboidal cells are found in
glands.

Locations:
– Vesicles of Thyroid gland
– Acini of Pancreas
– Pancreatic duct
– Secretory unit of sweat glands
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Modifications
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©NBrush bordered cuboidal epithelium: These types of cells have
microvilli at the free ends of the cells. It is located at the proximal convoluted
tubules of nephron.
Ciliated cuboidal epithelium: The cubical cells have cilia on the free
surfaces. These cells are associated with secretory goblet cells. It is located
on the ducts of nephron. Cilia help in conduction of mucus and other
substances.
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SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
©N – Basement membrane is present.
– Cells are pillar or column like in shape.
– Elongated nucleus is present at the base of cell.
– It helps in absorption and secretion.
Locations:
Bile Duct and Liver
Modifications:
Brush Bordered Columnar epithelium :
Microvilli are present at free end of epithelium.
e.g. Gall bladder
Glandular columnar epithelium :
Unicellular mucous secreting goblet cells are
also present in between columnar cells.
eg. Stomach, Colon, Rectum
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Pseudo-stratified epithelium
©N– It appears bilayered as two types
of cells are present
i.e. Long cells and Short cells.
– But all the cells are present on
single basement membrane.
– All these cells are pillar like in
shape so it is also modification of
columnar epithelium.
– In long cells, elongated nucleus is
present at the base of cell & are
ciliated Short cells have rounded
nucleus present in the centre of cell,
lack cilia and secrete mucus.

Function: It functions as protection

against dust particles entering the
respiratory tract.
Location: It is found in the lining
of trachea, large bronchi, and ducts
of some glands.
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Compound p Epithelium
©N
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©NStratified Epithelium
• Stratified epithelium possess many layer of epithelial cells, the deepest
layers is made up of cuboidal or columnar cells.
On the basis of shape of the cells of outermost layer it is of four types.
(1) Stratified squamous epithelium
(2) Stratified cubical epithelium

(3) Stratified columnar epithelium

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Stratified Squamous Epithelium
©N
• Innermost layer of cells are of cuboidal or columnar shaped.
• Cells of outermost layer are scale like flat cells.
• On the basis of presence or absence of Keratin protein in the
outer most cells this epithelium is of two types.
Keratinized Stratified squamous epithelium:
Non Keratinized Stratified squamous epithelium
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©NKeratinized Stratified squamous epithelium:
The cells of upper layers are dead, non nucleated
and contain waterproof keratin protein.
Location: Epidermis of skin, Scale, Horn, Nails,
Feathers, etc.
Function: It makes the layer impermeable to
water and protects underlying tissues from
abrasion (Scraping).
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©N
Non Keratinized Stratified squamous epithelium:
Keratin protein is absent, Cells are living and nucleated.
Locations: Buccal cavity or oral cavity of mammals, Inner lining of cheeks,
Inner lining of lips, Pharynx, Oesophagus, Lining of vagina, Cornea of eye.
Functions: It provides moderate protection against abrasion.
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©NStratified Cubical Epithelium
• Outermost layer of cells are cube like & cells are nucleated & living.
• Middle layer – polygonal shaped cells.
• Locations:
Secretory duct of sweat glands,
Mammary glands and sebaceous gland
Secretory unit of salivary glands,
 Female urethra,
Pancreatic ducts.
Function: Protection
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©NStratified Columnar Epithelium
• Outermost layer of cells are columnar, cells are nucleated & living.
• Middle layer – polygonal shaped cells.
• Examples:
Epiglottis,
Ducts of mammary glands,
Conjunctiva of eye,
Penile urethra
Function: It helps in protection and secretion.
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Transitional Epithelium(Urothelium, Plastic Epithelium)
©N • It is only tissue in which basement membrane is absent.
So innermost layer directly rest upon underlaying
connective tissue.
• In this epithelium 4-6 layer of cells are present.
• Middle 2-4 layers are composed of pear shaped or
umbrella shaped cells.
• Outermost 1 or 2 layers are of oval shaped cells.
• These different shape of cells appears only in resting
stage. When this tissue is stretched, all the cell become
flattened.
• At outermost layer a thin cuticle is present which makes
this tissue water proof.

Locations: Renal pelvis and calyces, Mucus membrane of

ureter and urinary bladder, prostatic urethra.
Function: It makes an organ stretchable and helps in
distention. It is also protective in function.
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©N
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Modified Epithelium
©NSome epithelial cells are modified
for specialized functions. These are:
Ciliated Epithelium: It is the
modified form of columnar or
cuboidal cells. These cells bear cilia
at their free surfaces. Cilia help in
conduction of mucus and other
substances. It forms lining of neck of
uriniferous tubules, sperm ducts,
trachea, bronchi, etc.
Sensory Epithelium: It is the
modified columnar cells. Some of the
columnar cells develop fine sensory
fibers at their free surfaces, which
are sensitive in nature. It forms
lining of the tongue and nasal
cavities.
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©N

Germinal Epithelium: These cells are the modified cuboidal cells which
are found in the testes and ovary. These can divide and develop into gametes
(Spermatozoa and ova) by meiosis. These form lining of gonads
(seminiferous tubule of testis and lining of ovary).

Glandular Epithelium: These cells are modified columnar or cuboidal

cells specialized for manufacture and secretion of certain chemical
substances. These cells form glands.
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Types h p of glands
©N a. Based on the number of cells present.
Unicellular glands: These occur as a single cell, scattered in the columnar
cells. Examples are goblet cells or mucus secreting cells.
Multicellular glands: These glands are forms of many cuboidal cells. These
cells form many tubular invagination. Examples are sweat glands, gastric
glands, etc.
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Based
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©NExocrine glands: These are the glands which pour their secretion through
ducts to their respective site of action. Their secretions are called as
enzymes. Glands could be unicellular or multicellular. Examples: Salivary,
tear, gastric and intestinal glands.
Endocrine glands: These are the glands which do not possess ducts and
pour their secretions directly into blood vessels, called ductless glands.
Their secretions are hormones, reach their respective sites of action
through blood. Examples: Pituitary, Thyroid, etc.
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Based
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©NOn the basis of mode of releasing the secretion, the exocrine glands are of three types:
Merocrine glands: In these glands, the secretions are discharged on its cell surface by
diffusion without losing any of its cytoplasm. Examples: goblet glands, salivary glands,
sweat glands, etc.
Apocrine glands: In these glands, the cell loses a part of its cytoplasm while releasing its
secretions. The secretions are stored in the apical part of the cell and then discharge their
secretions after burst. Example: Mammary glands and some sweat glands.
Holocrine glands: In these glands, the entire cell, when filled with secretory products,
breaks down in order to release its secretions, which extrude from the epithelial surface.
Examples: sebaceous glands in the skin of mammals.
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©N
Based on the nature of secretion
Mucous glands: These are the glands which secrete the mucus. The cells
are called as mucous cells. It is present as in goblet cells in the in the
intestine.
Serous glands: These are the glands which secrete a clear watery fluid.
These cells are termed as serocytes. Serous cells are found in the parotid
salivary glands, intestinal glands and sweat glands.
Mixed glands: Some glands are made of both mucocytes and serocytes
and hence produce both kinds of secretion, e.g. gastric glands and
pancreatic glands.