Epithelium

Dr. Lalit Mehra

Objectives
At the end of the lecture the student must be familiar with:
• Functions and Properties of Epithelial Tissue
• Types of Cell Junctions/Attachments
• Functions of Basal Lamina or basement membrane
• Types of epithelium with common sites
• Cell surface Modifications
• Classification of glands
Properties of epithelium
 Respiratory Tract,
Cilia
Uterine Tubes

Small Intestine,
Apical Surface Microvilli
PCT

Epididymis, Vas
Stereocilia
Deferens

Zonula Occludens

Zonula Adherens

Epithelial Cell Lateral Surface

Macula Adherens
Or Desmosomes

Nexus Or Gap
Junctions

Basement
Membrane

Basal Surface Hemidesmosomes

Basal Membrane
Infoldings
Basal Lamina / Basement Membrane

Most epithelial cells are separated from

the connective tissue by a sheet of
extracellular material called basal lamina
• a – lamina rara or lucida, b – lamina densa, c – reticular lamina,
• d – basal lamina, e – basal cell membrane
Functions of basal laminae
• Support cells
• Provide a barrier that limits exchange of macromolecules
• Influence cell polarity
• Regulate cell proliferation and differentiation by binding with growth factors
• Influence cell metabolism
• Serve as pathways for cellular migration
• Contain information necessary for cell-to-cell interactions
Junctional Complex
Zonula occludens or tight junction

• Outer leaflets of the cell

membrane of the two adjoining
cells fuse at various points
• Major components: Occludin and
claudin proteins
• Their cytoplasmic parts bind to
actin microfilaments
Zonula adherens

• Cell membranes of two adjoining cells are separated

by an intercellular space
• Actin filaments, linked by α-actinin and vinculin to a
transmembrane protein called E-cadherin or
adherens cell adhesion molecule (A-CAM)
 Desmosome
• Complex disk-shaped structure at
the surface of one cell that is
matched with an identical structure
at the surface of the adjacent cell.
• Firm adhesion among cells.
• An attachment plaque on the
cytoplasmic side of each cell
anchors tonofilaments.
Hemidesmosome
• One-half of a desmosome.
• Adhesion of epithelial cells to
the underlying extracellular
matrix.
• Integrins.
Pemphigus Vulgaris Bullous pemphigoid
Gap Junctions
Cell surface Modifications
 Microvilli
• Sites: Small intestine, Proximal convoluted tubule
Microvilli
 Cilia
Sites: Respiratory tract, Fallopian tubes
 Cilia
• 9+2 arrangement
• Basal body
Flagellum
Simple Squamous Epithelium
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
Simple Columnar Epithelium
Keratinised Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Non-Keratinised Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
Stratified Columnar Epithelium
Transitional Epithelium
Pseudostratified Epithelium
Neuroepithelial and Myoepithelial cells
 Alveoli, Blood Vessels, Body Cavities,
Squamous
Cornea, Loop Of Henle

Cuboidal Thyroid Gland, PCT, DCT, Ovary

Simple
GI Tract, Gall Bladder, Uterus, Uterine
Columnar
Tubes
Pseudo-
Respiratory Tract, Epididymis, Vas Deferens
stratified

Lining
Epithelium Keratinized Epidermis Of Skin
Squamous
Oral Cavity, Pharynx,
Non-
Esophagus, Anal
keratinized
Canal, Vagina

Stratified Cuboidal Large Ducts Of Exocrine Glands

Columnar Male Urethra

Transitional Ureter, Urinary Bladder

Glandular Epithelium
• Unicellular gland: Goblet cell
Goblet Cells
Exocrine Vs Endocrine glands
Thank You