EPITHELIAL TISSUE (Epithelium / Epithelia)

Covering of external & internal surfaces of the body (skin, cavities, tracts, glands, )
Consists almost entirely of cells with very little extracellular material between them
thus cells are very close to each other
Single or multiple layer

Free surface – not in contact with other cells

Basal surface – adjacent to a basement membrane which attaches underlying
tissues like a connective tissue

BASEMENT MEMBRANE
partly secreted by epithelial cells & the underlying tissues
protein meshwork that filters & acts as a barrier to cell movement
boundary (separates)of epithelial & underlying connective tissue
capillaries in connective tissue do not penetrate the
basement membrane
therefore if for example cancer cells penetrate basement
membrane from epithelial tissue it will have access to
blood vessels in connective tissue & will scatter
throughout the other organs
No blood vessels so gases, nutrients, and waste products diffuse across the
basement membrane between the capillaries & epithelial cells
TIGHT JUNCTIONS bind adjacent
cells together to form permeability
barriers & prevent passage of materials
between epithelial cells
 GAP JUNCTIONS are small channels that
allow small molecules & ions (e.g. water) to
pass from one epithelial cell to an adjacent one

DESMOSOMES – mechanical links or belts

that bind cells together
Hemidesmosomes – modified
desmosomes that anchor cells to
the basement membrane
Found in epithelia subjected to
stress e.g. in skin

GLANDS – or glandular epithelium are epithelial tissues capable of secretion

EPITHELIAL TISSUE FUNCTIONS

Protection of underlying structures
skin, oral cavity, tracts like respiratory, urinary & sometimes
reproductive tract
 Barrier
skin reduces water loss from the cells or body towards the skin & out
of body)
Selective passage of substances thru the gap junctions
O2 & CO2 from alveoli of lungs
Secretion of certain substances especially thin or flat substances
sweat, mucus, pancreas that lines endocrine organs or sweat glands
Absorption of certain substances
inner lining of intestines has very thin epithelial tissues microvilli
absorb food molecules,vitamins, & ions

CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIA

ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF ACCORDING TO THE SHAPE OF

CELL LAYERS THE CELLS
Simple – single layer Squamous – flat
Stratified – multiple layers Cuboidal – cube
Columnar – tall & thin

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Single layer of flat, often hexagonal cells
nuclei appear as bumps when viewed in cross section (because cells are so flat)
Semi-permeable
Alveoli allows O2 & CO2 diffusion
Nephrons allow filtration of blood & filtrate
Blood vessels (endothelium)
Function: Diffusion, filtration, some secretion & prevents abrasion between
organs by secreting a fluid which will prevent friction & abrasion between 2
organs that are very close to each other
Location: Lining of blood vessels & the heart, lymphatic vessels, alveoli of the
lungs, portions of the kidney tubules, lining of serous membranes of body
cavities (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal)
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Single layer of cube-like shape
some cells have microvilli (kidney tubules) or cilia (terminal bronchioles of the
lungs)
Function:
Active transport & facilitated diffusion result in secretion & absorption by cells of
the kidney tubules
secretion by cells of glands & choroid plexuses
movement of particles embedded in mucus out of the terminal bronchioles by
ciliated cells
Location: Kidney tubules, glands & their ducts, choroid plexuses of the brain,
lining of terminal bronchioles of the lungs & surfaces of the ovaries

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of tall, narrow cells
Some cells have cilia (bronchioles of lungs, auditory tubes, uterine tubes &
uterus) or microvilli (intestines)
Contain more organelles
Function:
Movement of particles out of the bronchioles of the lungs by ciliated cells
partially responsible for the movement of oocytes through the uterine tubes by
ciliated cells
secretion by cells of the glands, the stomach, and the intestine
absorption by cells of the intestine
 Location: Glands and some ducts, bronchioles of lungs, auditory tubes, uterus,
uterine tubes, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, bile ducts & ventricles of the
brain

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

(pseudo=false, stratified=multilayer)
Single layer of cells
some cells are tall & thin & reach the free surface & others do not
nuclei of these cells are at different levels and appear stratified
cells are almost always ciliated and are associated with goblet cells that
secrete mucus (by goblet cells) & may contain cilia on to the free surface
Function:
Synthesize and secrete mucus on to
the free surface and move mucus
(or fluid) that contains foreign
particles over the surface of the
free surface and from passages
Location: Lining of nasal cavity, nasal sinuses, auditory tubes, pharynx, trachea
& bronchi of lungs (also usually contain cilia w/c contains the mucus & traps dust
particles to have it spitted out as phlegm)

STUDENT ASSESSMENT QUESTION 2:

In your own words, explain why pseudostratified columnar epithelium looks multilayered even though
it is only composed of a single layer of cells?

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Multi-layered cuboidal or columnar cells capable of dividing & producing new cells
which are pushed to the surface as flat & thin cells
epithelium can be non-keratinized (moist & soft) or keratinized (usually dry,
scaly & tough)
in nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, the surface cells retain a
nucleus and cytoplasm
in keratinized stratified epithelium, as the cell flattens the cytoplasm of
cells at the surface is replaced by a protein called keratin & the cells die
(which serves as protection & barrier)
Function:
Protects against abrasion
forms a barrier against infection
reduces loss of water from the body
Location:
Keratinized — outer layer of the skin
non-keratinized — mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, anus, vagina, inferior
urethra & corneas

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Multi-layered surface cuboidal cells in
sweat gland ducts, ovarian follicular
cells & salivary glands
Functions as absorption, Secretion,
protection,

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Multi-layered surface columnar cells &
irregular or cuboidal deeper layer cells
 Mammary gland ducts, larynx, and
portion of male urethra
Secretion, protection, & absorption

Transitional Epithelium
Special type of stratified epithelium that is highly stretchable
Not stretched, it has 5 or more layers of cuboidal or columnar cells that are
dome -shaped at the free surface
As it stretches due to fluid, cells change to low cuboidal or squamous & number
decreases
Function:
Accommodates fluctuations in the volume of fluid in an organ or a tube
protects against the caustic effects of urine
Location: Lining of urinary bladder, ureters, and superior urethra