MODULE HUMAN HISTOLOGY

CHAPTER 3: EPITHELIUM
OBJECTIVES:
• Define epithelium
• It’s classifications and
• Structures

Epithelium forms continuous sheets of cells that line internal surfaces and cover the external surface
of the body. It is a selective barrier that protects tissues and is often involved in absorption or
secretion. A basement membrane separates an epithelium from the underlying connective tissue.
Epithelia are classified based on three criteria:

• Number of cell layers (single or compound)

• Shape of surface cells (squamous, cuboidal or columnar)
• Specializations (cilia, keratin or goblet cells)

Epithelia are classified by the shape of the surface cells and whether it has single or multiple layers of
cells.
Shape of surface cells:

• Squamous - flattened cells whose width is greater than their height

o Nuclei are often taller than the flattened cells and bulge into the lumen
o Difficult to see their thin cytoplasm
• Cuboidal - cells appear as high as they are wide
o Spherical nuclei are centrally positioned
• Columnar - cells are taller than they are wide
o Oval nuclei located near the base of the cells

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Number of layers:
Specialized epithelia:

• Pseudostratified Columnar
o Single layer of cells
o Nuclei appear being at two or more levels
o Not all cells reach the free surface
o All cells contact the basement membrane (purple)
• Transitional - used where the epithelium is stretched
o Multiple layer of cells
o Only the lowest layer of cells (yellow) contact the basement membrane (purple)
o Morphology varies depending on whether it is relaxed or stretched
▪ Relaxed - surface layer of large, dome-shaped cells
▪ Stretched - surface layer of flattened cells

Epithelial cells are highly polarized:

• Apical surface - faces the lumen or the external environment

• Microvilli, cilia, stereocilia
• Lateral surface - faces the sides of adjacent cells
• Tight junctions (zona occludens), adherens junction (zona adherens),
desmosomes (macula adherens), gap junctions
• Basal surface - attaches to the basement membrane
• Basement membrane, hemidesmosomes

An epithelium does not contain blood vessels and receives nourishment via diffission from the
underlying connective tissue.
Glands are formed by the down growth of an epithelium into the underlying connective tissue

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Simple squamous epithelium consists of a single layer of flattened cells. The thinness of these cells
facilitates the transfer of materials (e.g., gases, fluids or nutrients) across the epithelium.
Simple Epithelia

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The kidney contains many different types of epithelia. However, the focus here is only on a simple
squamous epithelium.

Find one of the round structures (~250 µm diameter) known as renal corpuscles. Each contains a
glomerulus (a tuft of capillaries) surrounded by Bowman's capsule.
The interior of the capsule is lined by a simple squamous epithelium that rests on a thick basement
membrane. The only part of these cells that can be seen are their nuclei bulging into the interior.
Also see EM 080 Bowman's Capsule.
Common Bile Duct
This cross section of the bile duct contains
many blood vessels in the surrounding
connective tissue.
Blood vessels are lined with a simple
squamous epithelium. The only part of these
cells that can be seen are their flattened
nuclei.
Epithelium that line blood vessels, the heart,
and lymphatic vessels is also known as
an endothelium.
a Eye
Simple Squamous Epithelium
The cornea is the transparent front part of the
eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior
chamber.
The posterior surface of the cornea is covered by
a simple squamous epithelium. Note the thick
basement membrane supporting the epithelium.
These squamous cells are unusual in that they are
thicker (approximately 5 µm) than the typical
flattened squamous cells. This makes their
cytoplasm easy to see in cross-section.

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Ovary and Oviduct
Although cross sections of the ovary and oviduct
are seen, examine the mesentery composed of
connective tissue found between these tissues.
The mesentery is covered by a simple
squamous epithelium known as
the mesothelium.

• Cross-section - most of the mesothelium is

sectioned in cross-section in which only the
nuclei are seen.
• En face - a fortuitous tangential section of the
mesothelium allows an en face view of individual
squamous cells. The nuclei surrounded by
cytoplasm are seen in these cells.

Also see EM 072 Mesothelium.

Pavement Epithelium
(H&E)
A simple squamous epithelium consisting of
flattened cells is also called pavement
epithelium. This type of epithelium, for
example, occurs on the mesentery
(mesothelium) and lining blood vessels
(endothelium)
This specimen is a whole mount of thin
mesentery stained with silver to outline
individual cells and hematoxylin to show the
nuclei. The mesentery is covered on both
sides with simple squamous epithelium.
The thinness of the specimen allows both surfaces to be seen giving the false impression that cells
are multinucleated.

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Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Simple cuboidal epithelium consists of a single layer of cuboidal cells. This epithelium is often
associated with absorption, secretion, or excretion of waste matter.
The surface area of the small intestine is
increased by finger-like projections called villi.
The epithelium is a single layer of cells that are
taller than they are wide. Where the section was
cut orthogonal to the surface of the villi, a single
row of cells are seen.
This simple columnar epithelium contains:

• Surface Absorptive Cells (or enterocytes) -

their apical surface has tightly packed microvilli
to increase their surface area. This is known as a brush border. The dark line underneath the brush
border is the terminal web in which the microvilli are anchored.
• Goblet Cells - scattered cells that secrete mucus. The secretion granules are clustered together near
the apical surface. This is seen as a clear circular area due to the mucus being extracted during
preparation of the specimen.

Also see EM 017 Small Intestine.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Pseudostratified epithelium appears to be stratified because the nuclei of the epithelial cells are at
different levels. However, every cell is in contact with the basement membrane, but not all cells reach
the lumen.

The luminal surface of the trachea is lined

with a pseudostratified columnar
epithelium. In some areas, individual
epithelial cells can be identified in this semi-
thin section.
Features of this epithelium:

• Cilia - extend 5 to 7 µm from the surface

of the epithelial cells. The dark line at their
base is from their basal bodies.
• Goblet Cells - scattered cells that secrete mucus. They are difficult to identify in this specimen.
• Basement Membrane - the epithelium is separated from the underlying connective tissue by a thick
basement membrane. Difficult to identify in this specimen.

Since it lines the respiratory tract, a pseudostratified ciliated, columnar epithelium with goblet cells is
referred to as the "respiratory epithelium".

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Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Stratified squamous epithelium has multiple layers of cells becoming flattened as they move from the basal layer
to the apical layers. It provides protection from abrasion and is keratinized on the external surface of the body.

There are two types of skin - thin and thick. Thick skin
only occurs on the palmar and plantar surfaces hands
and feet, whereas thin skin occurs on all other parts of
the body.
Thick skin is covered by a stratified squamous
keratinized epithelium.

• The epithelial cells form between 10 and 20

layers.
• The keratin layer is thicker than the cellular layer
(which is the opposite of thin skin.)
• Because skin is exposed to air, it is keratinized
to protect the surface from abrasion and is lubricated by
glycolipids to protect it from dehydration.
• The basement membrane is too thin to be identified in this specimen.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Stratified cuboidal epithelium has multiple layers of cells with an outermost layer of cuboidal cells. Limited
distribution - found in the lining of larger ducts.

Cuboidal epithelium has a limited distribution. It

is most often found in the ducts from exocrine
glands. These ducts range from simple cuboidal,
simple columnar, to stratified cuboidal epithelia.

• Simple cuboidal epithelium - often found

in small ducts.
• Simple columnar epithelium - found in
intermediate size ducts.
• Stratified cuboidal epithelium - usually
found in both small and large ducts. It most often
has only two layers of cuboidal cells.

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Transitional Epithelium
Transitional epithelium (urothelium) is adapted for extensibility and is restricted to the urinary tract. It has multiple
layers of cells with an outermost layer of much larger, dome-shaped cells (umbrella cells) that change shape
during contraction and distention.

Transitional epithelium (urothelium) is a specialized stratified epithelium found in the lower urinary tract. It rapidly adapts
to distention and contraction by changing from a taller to thinner epithelium. Umbrella cells are highly dynamic cells at the
luminal surface.

• Relaxed (non-stretched)

The transitional epithelium has several layers of cells and large, dome-shaped umbrella cells on its surface. (They are
called umbrella cells because they cover several underlying epithelia cells.)

• Extended (stretched)

The transitional epithelium has become thinner. The umbrella cells have become elongated and flattened.

LINKS FOR MORE READINGS:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321295#results
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/epithelial-cells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/epithelial-cells
VIDEO LINKS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NEV-Rd7OgA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIhD0azoFBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRxMH0ndec8

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