epithelium to and from the

EPITHELIAL – connective tissue.

1 Protection: Skin and

Urinary bladder

Receptor function:
Definition: The Information: Nuclei
epithelium (epi: upper + Tongue, Nose, Eye etc. allow one to determine the
thele: nipple) covers all number of cell layers in an
internal and external epithelium.

surfaces of the body.

Structure of the
 Its avascular tissue. Epithelium
 Composed of cells that Lamina Propria
covers the exterior The shapes and
body surfaces. dimensions of epithelial Most epithelia are
 It forms the secretory cells are quite variable: adjacent to connective
portion of glands and tissue containing blood
their ducts. vessels from which the
 Specialized epithelial epithelial cell receive
cells function as nutrients and O2.
receptors for the
special senses. The connective tissue that
Function of the underlies the epithelia
epithelium lining the organs of the
digestive, respiratory, and
Examples
urinary systems is called
Secretion: Stomach and lamina propria.
gastric glands.

Absorption: Intestines
and proximal convoluted
tubules in the kidney.

Transportation: Surface
of an epithelium by motile
cilia, transport of
materials across an Papillae
The area of contact
between the two tissues
may be increased by small
evaginations called
papillae projecting from
the connective tissue into
the epithelium.
Cell Junctions
The epithelium cells are
closely apposed and
adhere to one another.
They have specific cell-to-
cell adhesion molecules
that form specialized cell
junctions.
Basement
Membrane
They exhibit functional
and morphologic polarity.
Their basal surface is
attached to an underlying
basement membrane, a
noncellular, protein-
polysaccharide-rich layer. 2) Paracellular transport
pathway
 It creates a selective
barrier between the
external environment
Transcellular: Requires a
and the underlying
set of channels and pumps
connective tissue.
in the apical and
 This selective barrier
basolateral membranes to
regulates the exchange
move solutes across an
of solutes between
epithelial cell
compartments.
Transport Paracellular: Is restricted
by a set of proteins that
through form tight junctions.
Depending on the type
epithelium proteins in the tight
junction, the paracellular
There are two types of pathway can be more or
transport: less permeable.
1) Transcellular transport
pathway Information: Paracellular
transport is a passive
transport process.

Classification
of Epithelium
Simple Squamous
Epithelium: Epithelial
layer consisting of a single
layer of squamous cells of
similar shape.
 Lines the vascular
system and cavities
 Regulates the passage
of substances with the
underlying tissue.
Endothelium: Is the
epithelial lining of the
blood and lymphatic
vessels
Mesothelium: Is the
epithelium that lines the
walls and covers the
contents of the closed
cavities of the body
Simple Cuboidal
Epithelium: Epithelial
layer consisting of a single
layer of similarity shaped
cuboidal cells.
 Acts as a barrier
 Takes part in secretion
 Lines the transmitting
channels
Simple Columnar
Epithelium: Epithelial
layer consisting of a single
layer of similarity shaped
columnar cells.
 Takes part in secretion
 At the apical domain of
the cell are microvilli
located
Stratified Squamous
Epithelium: Composed of
several cell layers with
flat cells on the surface.
Information: In a
stratified epithelium, the
shape and height of the
cells usually vary from
layer to layer, but only the
shape of the cells that
form the surface layer is
used in classifying the
epithelium.
It can be keratinized or
non-keratinized.
Stratified Cuboidal
Epithelium: Composed of
several cell layers with
cuboid cells on the surface
 Acts as protection and
barrier
 Plays role in secretory
Stratified Columnar
Epithelium: Composed of
several cell layers with
columnar cells on the
surface.
 Barrier and Protection
 Acts as transmitting
channel
Pseudostratified
Columnar Epithelium:
Cells of different shapes
and shapes all start from
the basal part, but are not
of the same size, so their
nuclei appear in different
planes. Pseudostratified
epithelium appears
stratified, although some
of the cells do not reach
the surface, all rest on the
basement membrane.
drainage pathways are
stretched.
The cells of this
epithelium can change
their shape against the
tensile force when the
bladder is full.

Information: If there is
cilia in its structure we
name it as
‘‘Pseudostratified ciliated
epithelium’’.

Special
Epithelia
Urothelium
Definition: Several cell
folds defined by the
presence of large,
umbrella shaped cells on
its free surface responsible
for maintaining epithelial
integrity when the urinary