EPITHELIUM

Classification of Epithelia

▪ # of cell layer/s
>1 layer – simple
>2 or more layers - stratified
Classification of Epithelia

▪ Shape of the cell

> polygonal, flat – squamous
> square – cuboidal
> rectangular - columnar
Classification of Epithelia

▪ Other attachments/appendage
> ciliated/ non ciliated
> keratinized/ non keratinized
Classification of Epithelia

▪ Simple epithelium
▪ Stratified epithelium
▪ squamous,cuboidal, or columnar
▪ Ciliated
▪ Simple squamous epithelium
▪ Lines the thoracic, abdominal and pericardial
cavities

▪ Mesothelium- lining a body cavity

▪ Endothelium- lining blood vessels
▪ Simple cuboidal epithelium
▪ Lines the ducts of many glands and some of the
tubules of kidney
▪ Simple columnar epithelium
▪ Found lining the stomach
▪ Stratified squamous epithelium
▪ Found in epidermis of the skin, lining of the oral cavity,
esophagus, and vagina
▪ Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
▪ found on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet
▪ Stratified columnar epithelium
▪ This type is uncommon & found only in the conjunctiva of the
eye, the cavernous urethra,& in the large excretory ducts of
some glands
▪ Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
▪ found in the male urethra and duct of parotid gland
▪ Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium
▪ occurs in a portion of the trachea, primary bronchi, auditory
tube & lining a portion of the tympanic cavity of the inner ear
▪ Transitional epithelium
▪ lines the urinary bladder
Epithelial Polarity
▪ A cell is polarized, if it functions are
preferentially directed towards one end
▪ Morphological evidence of cell polarity is
found in:
▪ a) apical specializations that amplify the area
of their free surface \
▪ b) supranuclear position of the Golgi complex
▪ c) the accumulation of secretory products in
the apical cytoplasm
 Diagram of the Polarity of the Columnar Epithelial Cell
▪ Function
▪ Apical Plasma Membrane
▪ 1)regulation of nutrient and
water uptake
▪ 2)Regulated secretion
3)Protection
▪ Lateral Plasma Membrane
▪ 1)Cell contact and adhesion
2)Cell communication
▪ Basal-lateral Membrane
▪ 1)Signal reception &
transduction
▪ 2) generation of ion gradients
▪ 3) Constitutive secretion
▪ Components
▪ Apical Plasma Membrane
▪ Glycolipids ,cholesterol, H/K
ATPase, & anion channels
▪ Lateral Plasma Membrane
▪ 1)Cell adhesion molecules
2) Junctional Complex
▪ Basal-lateral Membrane
▪ 1)Binding sites for
constituents of basal lamina
2)receptors for hormones &
other signaling molecules that
regulate the function of cell
Cell Cohesion

▪ Cell adhesion molecules(CAM)

▪ Cadherins
4 Kinds of Junctional Complexes

▪ Zona occludens(tight junction)

▪ Zonula adherens
▪ Desmosomes (macula adherens)
▪ Hemidesmosomes
4 Kinds of Junctional Complexes
▪ Zonula occludens
▪ belt-like membrane specialization
▪ enable cells to exercise selectivity
▪ serve as a barrier
▪ prevent movement of integral proteins
4 Kinds of Junctional Complexes

▪ Zonula adherens- below the zonula

occludens
▪ Site of cell-cell adherence
▪ Have a role in stabilizing the epithelium
4 Kinds of Junctional Complexes

▪ Desmosomes(macula adherens)
▪ Site of cell-cell attachments
▪ linking the cytoskeletons of adjoining cells
4 Kinds of Junctional Complexes
▪ Hemidesmosomes
▪ Found in stratified squamous epithelium
▪ Enable the epithelium to withstand the blows and
shearing stresses to which the skin is exposed,
without becoming separated from the basal
lamina
2 possible pathway across an epithelium

▪ 1)Trancellular Pathway-
▪ active uptake of substances at the free
surface by pinocytosis

▪ 2)Paracellular Pathway- molecules

passively diffuse
 Cell Communication
▪ Gap Junction(nexus)-a junctional complex
▪ abundant in smooth and striated muscle

▪ Connexons- project into the intercellular space,

of opposing membrane, where they are linked
end to end
▪ Ions, amino acids, cyclic AMP & other
molecules less than 2nm in diameter would be
able to pass freely through this channel
Basal Lamina
Surface Specializations

▪ Brush border
▪ microvilli
▪ Glycocalyx
▪ Cilia
▪Epithelial Renewal
▪ limited lifespan
▪ continually lost by exfoliation
▪ programmed cell death
▪ replaced by mitotic division of other cells

▪Types of epithelium based on their

function

▪Absorptive Epithelia
▪Secretory Epithelia
▪Types of Glands
▪ Exocrine –with duct
▪ Endocrine - ductless
▪Types of exocrine glands
based on # :
simple
compound
based on the shape/structure
tubular
acinar
Classification of Exocrine Glands
▪ Goblet cells
▪ Different types of glands according to the
physical properties of their secretory
product

▪ Mucous glands - mucin

▪ Serous glands - watery
▪ Merocrine
▪ Holocrine – whole cell goes w/ the secretion
▪ Apocrine – top portion is sloughed off w/ the
secretion
 Endocrine glands

▪ Do not deliver their secretion through a system

of ducts
▪ their product is a protein or steroid hormone
▪ diffuses into the blood