GENERAL ZOOLOGY

Activity 11. Animal Tissues - Epithelial Tissues

Objectives:
After this exercise, the students should be able to:
1. Identify and describe the different types of epithelial tissues that will be examined;
2. Describe the function and location of the various types of epithelial tissues in the body.

The first type of animal tissue is the epithelial tissue. This tissue is composed of closely
packed sheets of cells that cover the surface of the body or one of its cavities. On its apical side,
it is exposed to air or body fluids, and the basal side rests against a non-cellular layer produced
by the epithelial tissue and underlying connective tissue called the basement membrane. The
epithelial tissue plays vital functions in protection, secretion, absorption, and providing surfaces
for diffusion.

For every micrograph, mark the epithelium using a highlighter and answer the following
questions:
(1) How many layer/s of cells are visible?
(2) If the epithelium is multilayered, are the cells in each layer similar? Provide a brief
description. (if single-layered, write not applicable)
(3) What is the function of the epithelium?

(1) Single layer

(2) Not applicable
The endothelium of blood vessels is classified as
simple squamous epithelium. It provides a surface
p diffusion. It lines all blood arteries and controls
for
exchanges between the circulation and the
(3) surrounding tissue. Simple squamous epithelial
cells generate a membrane that permits the
selective diffusion of materials to pass through.
Provides a smooth passage of blood cells through
Figure 1. Endothelium of a blood vessel the vessel by providing a slick surface.

(1) Single layer

(2) Not applicable

(3) Epithelium in the Thyroid follicle is considered a

simple cuboidal epithelium. It is responsible for
secretion and absorption. Follicular cells compose
the simple columnar/cuboidal epithelium, which
p
synthesizes and releases different hormones:
Figure 2. Thyroid follicles
triiodothyronine and thyroxine.
 (1) 1.Single layer (Simple Columnar Epithelium)
(2) Not applicable

(3) Epithelium in the human stomach is a simple columnar

epithelium. It is also responsible for secretion and
absorption. It lines the inside of the stomach as surface
mucous cells and generates countless microscopic
Figure 3. Human stomach invaginations, or gastric pits, which look like millions of
holes across the stomach lining. These gastric pits are
vital because they link to the stomach's numerous
glands.
(1) Several/multiple layers
(2) The epithelium in the urinary bladder is considered a
transitional epithelium where it is made of multiple cell
layers, where cells constituting the tissue can change
shape depending on the distention of the organ. The
layers are almost similar, it is cuboidal in shape.
(3) It enables tissue to contract and expand

Figure 4. Urinary bladder

(1) Single layer

(2) Not applicable

(3) It is a type of simple columnar epithelium which

performs a different function such as absorption and
secretion

Figure 5. Gall bladder

 (1) Single layer
(2) Not applicable

(3) The epithelium in the trachea is pseudostratified

columnar. It is responsible for secretion. The trachea's
pseudostratified epithelium enables the humidification
and filtration of incoming air. It also assists in trapping
and transporting foreign objects through the nose and
lungs.

Figure 6. Trachea

(1) Multiple layers

(2) Epithelium in ovarian follicle is a stratified cuboidal
epithelium where it consist of several layers. The
shape of the cells in each layer are almost similar,
they all exhibit cuboidal shape.

(3) The major functions are protection, excretion, and

secretion. It plays a role in each developmental stage of
ovum maturation and release. It also aids in developing the
primary oocyte encased in the zona pellucida that
Figure 7. Ovarian follicle surrounds and protects the developing primary oocyte.
Thus, the stratified cuboidal epithelium that lines the
ovarian follicle assists in completing meiosis.
(1) Single layer
(2) Not applicable

(3) Epithelial tissue present in human epididymis is

pseudostratified epithelium. It is responsible for
secretion. It creates a special luminal environment
for spermatozoa maturation and storage.
Figure 8. Human epididymis
 (1) Multiple/several layers
(2) It is categorized as stratified squamous epithelium However,
cuboidal cells can be seen underneath the squamous cells,
demonstrating that the cells are not entirely squamous in
shape. Based on the figure, the lower part is cuboidal in shape
but the outermost layer is squamous in shape.
(3) Stratified squamous epithelium in the human
epidermis protects underlying tissues specifically in
areas subjected to abrasion; the loss of cells from
the surface, as in the case of wounds, does not
Figure 9. Human epidermis compromise the underlying tissue. Furthermore, it
prevents water loss around the body.

(1) Single layer

(2) Not applicable

(3) Epithelium found in Bowman’s capsule of the kidney

is simple squamous epithelium. It is known for
providing surface for diffusion and filtration and
provides rapid filtration and diffusion to the kidneys as
Figure 10. Bowman’s capsule of the kidney it filters about 180 liters of blood per day.

(1) 1.Multiple layers

(2) It consists of multiple layers of stratified squamous epithelium. It has a basal
membrane that acts as a support for the first layer of the epithelium. Epithelium in the
human vagina is stratified squamous epithelium type. Similar to the human epidermis,
the layers of the epithelium in the human vagina are not similar. The lower part
exhibits a cuboidal shape while the outermost layer displays a squamous shape
(3) Stratified squamous epithelium in the vagina serves
primarily as a protection against abrasion but is also
essential in the maintenance of vaginal pH.

Figure 11. Human vagina

 (1) 1.Single layer
(2) Not applicable

(3) 3.It plays an important role in secretion and absorption.

Kidney tubules are one example that possesses simple
cuboidal epithelium. It consists the kidney tubules found
within the kidney and aids in excreting by-products that are
Figure 12. Kidney tubules considered harmful into the urine, maintaining the balance of
ions and pH in the body, and facilitating nutrient absorption
and transportation of materials that have been filtered.

(1) Multiple layers

(2) It consists of stratified squamous epithelium which it
comprises several layers. The epithelium is non-
keratinized. The layers are not similar. The lower part
is cuboidal in shape but in the outermost layer, it is
squamous in shape.
(3) 3.Responsible for protection and acts as a lining that
covers the lumen of the esophagus and a barrier that
protects the esophagus against chemical and
mechanical upsets such as abrasion and the stomach’s
Figure 13. Human esophagus acid.

Epithelial tissues are classified partly by the shapes of their cells: squamous (flattened),
cuboidal (cube-shaped), or columnar (tall and thin). The number of cell layers is also important.
Simple epithelial tissues consist of a single layer of cells, whereas stratified epithelial tissues are
made of multiple cell layers. Pseudostratified epithelium contains a single layer of columnar
cells but it appears stratified because of the staggered arrangement of nuclei. Another tissue
classification is called transitional (find out why it is called transitional).
 SUMMARY

Summarize your observations by writing the name of the micrograph (e.g., human trachea) under the appropriate heading in
the table below. Also, write the functions of the enumerated epithelia in the lowermost row.

Simple Stratified Stratified Simple Pseudostratified

Simple Cuboidal Transitional
Squamous Squamous Cuboidal Columnar Columnar
Endothelium of Human Epidermis, Thyroid follicle, Ovarian Follicle Human Stomach, Urinary Bladder
Trachea,
Blood vessel, Human vagina, Kidney Tubules Gall Bladder Human Epididymis
Bowman's Human Esophagus
Capsule of the
Kidney

Function
Allows materials to Serves as protection For secretion, For secretion and Enables the tissue
For protection as Helps secure the
pass through its and prevents absorption, and protection to contract and
the examples transportation of
simple single materials to pass excretion as the expand when
above serve as materials for
layered tissue through this tissue examples above let storing liquids
storage of secretion and
membrane membrane materials pass more than the
materials that absorption
through it, volume capacity of
should be
therefore it should the organ
contained within
be able to let
and avoided to
materials pass
pass through the
through.
membrane
General Observation:

The three shape types and layer types of epithelial tissues differ vastly with its function. Most of the time they have
common traits of secretion, absorption, excretion, transportation, and storage. But nonetheless, they still differ
depending on what specific function of the organ they are present in. Each type of epithelial tissue may have different
functions and some epithelial tissues have same functions. In the end, epithelial tissues proves to have great
importance to us humans living everyday. One may say that without them humans may have been living differently or
won't exist at all.