BASIC TISSUES

HISTOLOGY DEPARTEMENT
 INTRODUCTION

T
I Perform one or
Aggregates
S of groups more specific
of cells funtion
S
U
E
 Epithelial
tissue

All organs are

Nervous Connective
tissue made up of only tissue
4 basic tissue

Muscle
tissue
Tissue concept  a basis of understanding and
recognizing the many cells type within the body
and how they interrelate

Despite the variations in general appearance,

structural, organization, and physiologic
properties of various body organ, the tissue
that compose them are classified into 4 basic
tissues
Human body is composed of 4 basic types of tissue :
1. Epithelial Tissues
Composed of closely aggregated polyhedral cells with
very little extracellular substance.
2. Connective Tissues
Characterized by the abundance of extracellular
material produced by its cells.
3. Muscle Tissues
Composed of elongated cells that have the specialized
function of contraction.
4. Nervous Tissues
Composed of cells with elongated processes extending
from the cell body that have the specialized function of
receiving, generating, transmitting nerve impulses.
 Primarily morphologic :
epithelium and
connective tissue
Basic tissue
Primarily functional :
muscle and nerve tissue
 EPITHELIUM (EPITHELIAL TISSUE)
• Characterized by close cell apposition and
presence at a free surface

• Arranged in single layer or in multilayers

• Joined by specialized cell to cell junction 

create a barrier between the free surface and
the adjascent connective tissue
 Free surface,
outer surface,
lining of the Lined by
body cavities, EPITHELIUM
tubes and ducts,
peritoneal
cavities, etc
Classification based on the
shaped

SQUAMOUS CUBOIDAL COLUMNAR

Flattened shaped Cuboid shaped
Column shaped with
with central flat with central basal oval nuclues
nucleus round nucleus
Classification based on the layer

SIMPLE • As a single layer

STRATIFIED • As multiple layers

 Squamous

Simple Cuboidal

Columnar
Epithelium
Squamous

Stratified Cuboidal

Columnar
Epithelial membranes are classified according to the number of cell layers between the basal lamina and the free surface and by the morphology of the
epithelial cells (Table 5–1). If the membrane is composed of a single layer of cells, it is called simple epithelium; if it is composed of more than one
cell layer, it is called stratified epithelium (Fig. 5–1). The morphology of the cells may be squamous (flat), cuboidal, or columnar when viewed in
sections taken perpendicular to the basement membrane. Stratified epithelia are classified by the morphology of the cells in their superficial layer only.
In addition to these two major classes of epithelia, which are further identified by cellular morphology, there are two other distinct types:
pseudostratified and transitional.
For more information see the Epithelium section of Chapter 5: Gartner and Hiatt: Color Textbook of Histology, 3rd ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 2007.

BBC 1 12
Specializations of the cell surface :
1. Microvili 1,2,3,4
- finger like projections of the plasma membrane
- specialised for absorption ex. Small intestine
- complex of microvilli : brush or striated border
2. Stereosilia 1,2,4
- longer branched microvilli
- visible with light microscope
- ex.: epididymis
3. Cilia and Flagella 1,2
- Cilia are elongated, motile structures
- Flagella only in spermatozoa, much longer than Cilia,
one flagellum per cell

13
cilia v
i
l
l
i

stereosilia

BBC 1 14
BBC 1 15
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Characterized on the basis of its extraxellular

matrix
• Separated form one another
• The intervening spaces are occupied by
material produced by the cells
• The extracellular material is called
extracellular matrix
Provides the supportive and
connecting framework (or
stroma) for all the other
tissues of the body.

Connective tissue is formed

by :
1. Cells
2. Extracellular matrix
(ECM) : fiber and ground
sbstance
1. CELLS
• Fibroblast
• Macrophage
• Plasma cells
• Mast cells
• Adipose cells
• Leucocyte
2. EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
• Fiber
– Collagen system :
• Collagen fiber
• Reticular fiber
– Elastic system

• Ground substance
BBC 1 20
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE

DENSE LOOSE

REGULAR IRREGULAR
 MUSCLE TISSUE

• Categorized on the basis of a functional

property, the ability of its cells to contract
• Characterized by :
 Large amounts of the contractile proteins actin
and myosin in their cytplasm
 Their particular cellular arrengement in the tissue
• Typically elongated and oriented with their
long axes in the same direction
TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE

SMOOTH SKELETAL CARDIAC

SKELETAL MUSCLE
• Formed by long cylindrical, multinucleated cell/fiber
• Cross-striations on muscle fiber
• Contraction : fast & voluntary
• Generally do not branch except in face & tongue

CARDIAC MUSCLE
• Elongated, cylindrical & branching fiber
• Each fiber contains only 1 or 2 nuclei, centrally placed
• Cross striations similar to skeletal muscle (A/I/H band & M/Z line)
• Found only in heart
• Contraction : automatic, spontaneous & involuntary(

SMOOTH MUSCLE
• Squamous cell, expanded central region, tapering ends
• Squamous nuclei, single & centrally placed
• Sarcoplasm : no striations  homogenous
• Contraction : slow, continue & involuntary
 NERVE TISSUE

• Consists of nerve cells (neurons) and

associated supporting cells of several types
• Highly specialized to transmit electrical
impulses from one site in the body to another ,
also specialized to integrate those impulse
• Receive and process information from the
external and internal environment
 NERVE TISSUE
NEURON NEUROGLIAL CELLS
(receptive, integrative and
(supporting & protecting
motor function of the
nervous system) neurons)

Cell Dendrites (receive Oligodendrocytes

impulses and carry
body them toward the cell Schwann cells
body) Astro cytes
Ependymal cells
Microglial
Axon (carries impulses
away from cell body)
Figure 9–5 Ultrastructure of a neuronal cell body. (From Lentz TL:
Cell Fine Structure: An Atlas of Drawings of Whole-Cell Structure.
Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1971.)
Figure 9–4 The various types of neurons.
In histologic section, it is usually impossible to
differentiate axon and dendrites because they
have the same structural papearance

The axon terminates at a neuronal junction called

a synapse

Neurons and supporting cells are derived from

neuroectoderm
Mucosa Submucosa

Muscularis externa

Serosa/
Adventitisa