Epithelial Tissue

❖ Provides covering to other tissues.

❖ cells very near to each other

least intercellular space.

❖ Cells derive their nourishment from

nearby vascular tissue.

❖ help in protection, absorption, excretion

and secretion.
In certain organs cells fuse with adjacent
cells forming tight junctions

e.g. alimentary canal.

Tight junctions as water proofing

Prevent digestive enzymes and miorganisms

from the intestine into the blood stream.
 classified according to
the shape and arrangement of the cells
 classified according to
the shape and arrangement of the cells
 Simple epithelial tissue
➢single layer of cells.
squamous
columnar
cuboidal
columnar ciliated and cuboidal ciliated

➢specifically found thin barriers

exchange of nutrients, wastes

or respiratory gases occurs.
 Squamous epithelium
• Situated on basement
membrane
• one layer of flat cells
resting on connective
tissues.
• Nucleus in the centre.
• The cells appear like the
tiles on the floor
(pavement).

• lungs, Bowman’s capsule,

heart, inner wall of the
blood vessels etc.
• ventral body cavities as mesothelium of
serous membranes
• all blood vessels , lymphatics ,lungs as
endothelium,
heart as endocardium
• alveoli gas exchange occurs
• kidney glomerulus and tubules
filtration and diffusion processes form
urine
• capillaries diffusion and osmosis occur
 Cuboidal epithelium
• one layer of cubical cells
the same dimension all sides .
• Protect the organ
help in secretion of various substances.
• Due to larger cytoplasmic
volumescan undertake more
complex functions
such as absorption and
secretion.
– Most secretory cells of glands
– bronchioles.
– secretory portions
exocrine and endocrine
glands in, thyroid gland

– ducts of many exocrine

glands
ex salivary glands
– kidney tubules
 Columnar epithelium
• Single layer of cells, height more than breadth.
• ultimate cells for absorption and secretion.

• With the largest cytoplasmic volumes of all

epithelia, possess the organelle density and
energy reserves to engage in the most complex
and efficient secretory or absorptive functions.

• Simple columnar epithelia with microvilli line

the small intestine
• 90% of absorption from the digestive tract
occurs here
Simple columnar epithelium

• ducts of exocrine glands

• larger tubules or collecting
ducts of the kidney
• stomach, small intestine, and
large intestine
• smaller respiratory tubes or
bronchioles
• fallopian tubes

goblet cells
unicellular gland or specialized
columnar cell of mucous
membranes that secretes mucus
for protection.
 GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM

• actually a modification
of the columnar
epithelium
• cells become
specialized for the
manufacture and
secretion of
• chemical substances.
• found lining the
intestine and various
glands.
• secrete mucus and
other secretions
 Ciliated epithelium
•May be columnar or cubical

• consists of about 15-25

hair like structures -cilia

•found in small bronchioles

of the respiratory tract and
in the fallopian tubes of the
female reproductive tract.

the cilia aid in the

movement of mucus or
reproductive cells
 Compound epithelial tissue
• having more than one layer of epithelial
cells.
Pseudo stratified
transitional
stratified squamous cornified
stratified squamous non-cornified,
stratified columnar
stratified columnar ciliated
 Pseudostratified epithelium

• "falsely stratified".
• Cells columnar but tall
and thin,variing sizes
• All cells rest on the
basement membrane.
• The tall, thin cells
intertwine.
• Nuclei appear at
various levels
but no distinct
layering.
• most prevalent in the upper or lower
respiratory tract as ciliated types.

• cilia beat in a rhythmic manner to propel

mucous along the surfaces of cells.

• This mucous layer, a product of goblet cells,

entraps dust, debris, and microbes inhaled into
the tract.

• Non-ciliated pseudostratified epithelium can

be found in the ducts of larger glands or the
male urethra.
 Transitional epithelium
• 3 or 4 layers of cells
• known as transitional because
the nature or cells is migrating
from simple to stratified cells.
• upper layer cells large and flat.
• lower layer of cells successively
made up of pyriform and
polyhedral cells.
• found in the pelvis of the kidney,
ureters, urinary bladder, urethra
etc.
 Stratified squamous cornified
• many layers of squamous
epithelial cells, modified as
the horny keratinized cells.
• skin, nails, palms

• the superficial cells flat

and horny and lower cells
broader and polyhedral.

• protection against
atmosphere mechanical
pressure, friction and injury.
 Stratified squamous non-cornified
• similar to stratified
squamous cornified
epithelium except
that does notcontain
keratinized cells
• various mucous
membranes
such as that of the
mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, anal canal,
vagina, cervix of the
uterus etc.
 Stratified columnar

• many layers of columnar cells.

• found in
– Conjunctiva
– pharynx
– anal mucosa etc.
Connective Tissue
 Cells matrix Fibres
serves as the binding structure
between two tissues.
• Cells less in number
intercellular substance called
matrix found in abundance.
• performs the function of
binding and supporting
different tissues.
• Fibres can be collagenous,
elastic, or reticular
• foundation can be liquid,
jelly-like, or solid
• connects and binds various other tissues
and organs.
• forms a protective covering around
almost all-visceral organs.
• forms a packing tissue, filling the
unused spaces in the body.
• plays an important role in the transport
mechanism in the body.
• Some cells produce a substance called
heparin, which prevents clotting of blood
inside the body.
• Some cells are capable of ingesting
disease producing germs by
phagocytosis.
connective tissue cells
 Fibroblasts
• large cells with irregular
processes,spindle shape laterally

• Produce collagen and elastic

fibres and a matrix of
extracellular material

• Fibroblasts particularly active in

tissue repair (wound healing)

• May bind together the cut

surfaces of wounds form
granulation tissue.
 Macrophages
Histiocytes
• irregular-shaped cells with
granules in the cytoplasm

• Seen in highly vascular area ,2

types .fixed,wandering

• Fixed eg kupffer cells in

liver:free in blood

• Irregular.amoebaoid, capable of
phagocytosis
 Macrophages –histiocytes
Functions
• important part of the body’s defence mechanisms
actively phagocytic,engulfing and digesting cell
debris, bacteria and other foreign bodies.

• activities typical of those of the the

macrophage/monocyte defence system

• e.g.monocytes in blood,phagocytes in the alveoli of

the lungs,kupffer cells in liver sinusoids,fibroblasts in
lymph nodes and spleen,and mocroglial cells in the
brain.
• Secrete lysozymes,collagenase
 Leukocytes
• White blood cells

• normally found in small numbers in healthy

connective tissue

• but neutrophils migrate in significant

numbers during infection when they play an
important part in tissue deference
 Plasma cells
• Develop from B-lymphocytes,a type of white
blood cell.

• synthesise and secrete specific defensive

antibodies into the blood and tissues.
 Mast cells:
• similar to basophil leukocytes
• found in loose connective tissue
• under the fibrous capsule of
some organs, e.g. liver and
spleen
• considerable numbers round
blood vessels
• produce granules containing
heparin ,histamine and other
substances ,which are released
when the cells are damaged by
disease or injury.
 Mast cells:
• Histamine
– involved in local and general inflammatory
reactions,
– stimulates the secretion of gastric juice
– associated with the development of allergies
and hypersensitivity states.
• Heparin
– prevents coagulation of blood,
– which may aid the passage of protective substances
from blood to affected tissues.
 Matrix components
• ground substance:
– a viscous, clear substance with a high water
content which occupies the space between
the cells and fibers.

– composed of proteoglycans glycoproteins)

made of a protein core with attached
glycosaminoglycans or GAGs.

– Important GAGs
hyaluronic acid,
chondroitin sulfate
heparan sulfate
keratan sulfate
 Basic proteoglycan
"core protein" with one or more
covalently attached glycosaminoglycan
(GAG) chain(s
Aggrecan,
the major proteoglycan in cartilage
 Fibers
3 types may be found singly or in combination:
• collagen fibers
– Collagen actually a glycoprotein
formed into a triple helix (called a fibril),
as many as 19 different varieties in various tissues.
– high tensile strength with some flexibility.
– Found in inelastic types of tissues.
• elastic fibers
– provide organs and tissues the ability to stretch and recoil
– fibers are thin and interwoven with collagen fibers to prevent tearing
– made of the protein elastin
• reticular fibers
– made of the same molecules as collagen but thinner
– form an internal mesh-like network within organs.
– produces an endoskeleton or stroma for soft organs
such as the spleen, liver, etc.
Connective tissue proper
composed of two types

loose connective tissue

dense connective tissue

A loose matrix such as in areolar tissue has

much fluid-filled space in between its
structural components.
A dense matrix does not.
Loose Connective
Tissue.-areolar tissue
• Most abundant connective
tissue and its matrix contains
most of the body's
interstitial fluid.

• Has all three types of fibers.

• These fibres cross and
intercross making a network

Space occupied by the matrix

and various types of cells
such as histocytes, basophils,
plasma cells, pigment cells,
mast cells, lymphocytes,
monocytes
 Loose Connective
Tissue.-areolar tissue
• In the underlying supportive
layer (lamina propria) of GI,
respiratory and genitourinary
tracts,
• In serous membranes
• interstitial tissue.
• between muscles and nerves
and in the interior of organs
binding in different parts
• in the subcutaneous, sub
mucous and subserosus tissues
 White fibrous tissue

made up of dense
matrix of collagenous
fibres arranged in
parallel bundles
•
 Dense regular
• known as fibrous or inelastic
connective tissue
• forms the structure of
tendons, ligaments,
aponeuroses, fascia,
and fibrous joints.
• almost entirely

• collagen fibers
(certain ligaments,
elastic ligaments,
have more elastic fibers)
 Dense irregular
• Has few cells
• mostly fibroblasts
• many fibers, principally collagen, arranged
in an irregular pattern to provide strength
and withstand stresses to which the organ
may be subjected.
• makes up the deep layer of the skin's
dermis
• it produces the supporting submucosa of
the hollow organs (e.g. GI tract), and the
capsules of synovial joints.
 Dense tissues -reticular tissue
• Has reticular fibers only

• Resembles white fibrous tissue, but the fibres are

thinner and branching

• The cells of this tissue from a part of the

reticuloendothelial system

• Found as the internal support (stroma) of the

kidneys, spleen, liver and many other soft organs.
 Yellow elastic tissue:
• made up of fibres that
are thicker, branched
and yellow in colour.
• fibres not wavy and
may be present singly
or in bundles.
• found walls of the large
arteries in the stroma
of the larynx, bronchi,
lungs and sparingly in
certain elastic ligaments
(e.g. those of the spinal
column)
• .
 Yellow elastic tissue:
• As it is elastic in
nature, helps in binding
various parts together
and also helps in
movement of the organ.
• It makes the arteries
flexible to absorb the
pulse pressure, and
gives the lungs their
recoil.
 Adipose tissue
• Sometimes considered a specialized
form of loose connective tissue rather
than connective tissue proper

• adipose cells store lipid in a large

vacuole which fills each cell.

• Found around many abdominal organs

• under the skin
• in the medullary canal of long
bones,
• in the mesentery, omentum
• Subcutaneous tissue all over the
body except some places like
eyelids
• In hollow spaces likeorbit.axila
 Adipose

• Prevents the injury to

organs-shock absorber
• Gives shape to limbs
• Stores energy in form
of fats pads and
insulates the body,
• regulates body
temperature.
 Epithelial membranes
(organ membranes)
combinations of epithelial and connective tissues
which have specific functions.

Serous membranes
Mucous membranes

Synovial membranes are not epithelial

membranes
 Serous membranes
➢ combined of simple squamous epithelium
and areolar connective tissue.
➢Secretes serous fluid as a lubricant for
sliding of the tissues.
Found as
❖the pericardial sac prevents friction and
abrasion when the heart beats
❖pleural membranes around the lungs
❖mesenteries attaching the intestines
❖peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity
and covering its organs.
 Mucous membranes
• combined of columnar
epithelium with areolar
connective and smooth muscle.
• Forms the structure of the
GI and respiratory
passageways.
• Specialized glands, or cells
goblet cells, secrete mucus
to
– protect the lining,
– lubricate the propulsion of food
– remove particulates form the
respiratory tract.
 Synovial membranes
Are not epithelial
membranes
• composed entirely of
connective tissue
• they
– form joint capsules
which lubricate joints
– and bursae which
lubricate the
movements of tendons
and ligaments.
 Fascia is connective tissue
The “glue”
that holds us together
“plastic wrap”,
“a spider’s web”.
Fascia made up of collagen and elastin.

• The big difference between collagen and

elastin is stiffness.
• Both fibers stretch, but elastin will stretch
farther before breaking than collagen.
• The most prevalent component of ground
substance of fascia is water.
• Water allows the fascia to slide across other
fascia.
• the less water there in the ground substance;
the stickier fascia becomes.
 Fascia is connective tissue
• Fascia extends from head to toe and
front to back in a continuous sheath
of tissue.
• surrounds every organ, nerve, blood and
lymph vessel, muscle and bone.
• not only surrounds every muscle but also
every muscle cell and muscle fascicle
(group of muscle cells).
• The fibers of fascia are continuous
from around the muscle to the tendon
to the periosteum of the bone.
 Fascia
• not only surrounds
every muscle but
also every muscle
cell and muscle
fascicle (group of
muscle cells).
• The fibers of
fascia are
continuous from
around the muscle
to the tendon to
the periosteum of
the bone.
• The name, density and molecular
structure of fascia changes based on
location in the body.
• When fascia leaves one structure for a
new one (muscle, tendon, bone) the name
changes.
• As fascia moves to surround new
structure it is also tasked with new job.
• The fascia that surrounds a layer of
subcutaneous fat is much less dense than
the fascia that surrounds a muscle.
 Vascularization of tissues - Tissue Repair.

• The ability of tissues to repair themselves related

to their blood supply.
• Tissues well supplied with blood capillaries can
usually have rapid repair compared with poorly
supplied tissues.

• Two types of repair:

– Functional or parenchymal repair
in epithelial tissue
function of the replaced cells continues

– stromal repair or scar tissue

fibrous tissue knits the damaged parts together
it doesn't perform the tissues original function.
 Epithelial tissue -repair
• Generally exhibits functional repair.

• Most exhibit rapid mitosis and the original function is

normally retained.

• Although the tissue itself has no blood vessels, vessels are

a short distance away in the supporting connective tissue
,usually areolar.

• Epithelial tissue in the skin, in the linings of organs in the

GI and respiratory tracts, in the liver, in many glands, and
in blood vessels can all replace and repair themselves,

• the limiting factor generally

• degree of damage
• and other nutritive and health factors.
 Connective tissues- Repair
• Poor vascularization and therefore slow repair
• Repair of connective tissues is stromal repair
• scartissue binds the organ but is not the same as the
original tissue.
• Exceptions
areolar, which is the route for blood supply in the skin
and in many internal organs
bone, which is richly supplied with blood vessels and
adipose tissue.

Bone repairs itself much more rapidly and effectively

than,cartilage or fibrous connective tissue (tendons
and ligaments).

Adipose is highly vacularized and will continue to

repair and grow
 Tissue regeneration
• The extent to which tissue regeneration
possible depends on type of cells
– Cells continuously dividing regenerates
quickly ex epithelial cells of skin ,mucous
membrane
– Cells retain ability to replicate, do it
infrequently, they take longer regenerate