EPITHELIUM

Ahmad Syamil Mohamad

MBBS (Malaya), MBA (IUMW)
 EPITHELIUM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywMqgeyzUU8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIhD0azoFBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNNMYwF7dHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqzQbVs5yKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVAfKju-q9w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSqzvU6vmmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGohnmcE534
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_w2L2bV898
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpH0DHHQ2cs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddHQW0QnbDI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDWYZdow87I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqmTmX1Hu1Q
 Learning Outcome

At the end of the lecture students should be able to:

1. List the 4 basic tissues.

2. Describe the characteristic features of epithelium.
3. Discuss different types of epithelium found in different parts of the
body.
4. Explain the classification of epithelium.
5. Discuss the different types of glandular epithelium.
6. Clinical Relevance
Basic Tissues

• Epithelial tissue
• Connective tissue
• Muscular tissue
• Nervous tissue
 Epithelial Tissue / Epithelium

Special Characteristics of Epithelia:

1. Consists of surface and glandular epithelium.
2. It has continuous layer or layers of cells (formed sheets) with very
little or no intercellular substance.
3. Specialized contacts between cells; have junctions for both
attachment and communication.
4. Polarity have an apical and basal surface.
5. Rest on basement membrane, support by connective tissue
i. at the basal surface, both the epithelial tissue and the
connective tissue contribute to the basement membrane.
6. Avascular
7. Innervated  presence nerve supply.
8. Regeneration  high capacity for regeneration.
Special Cell Junctions / Junctional
Complex

• Tight junction
• Adherens junction
• Desmosome
• Hemidesmosome
• Gap junction
Tight Junction (Occluding Junction)

Tight junctions between cells are

connected areas of the plasma membrane
that stitch cells together.
Adherens Junction

Adherens junctions join the actin

filaments of neighboring cells together.
Desmosome

Desmosomes are even stronger connections that

join the intermediate filaments of neighboring
cells. At the base of the cell is hemidesmosome.
Gap Junction

Consist of clusters of
channels that form tunnels
of aqueous connectivity
between cells.
 Classification of Epithelium

1. Based on location of the epithelium in the

body surface or glandular
2. Based on number of cell layers and shape of
the cells  a) Simple epithelium
b) Stratified epithelium
 Simple Epithelium

1. Only one layer of cells

2. All cells touch basement membrane
3. According to shape of cells, can be divided into;
i) Simple squamous epithelium
ii) Simple cuboidal epithelium
iii) Simple columnar epithelium
iv) Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
 Simple Squamous Epithelium

1. Composed of one layer flat or

squamous cells.
2. Nucleus – single, oval or flattened
and central in position.
3. Sites – Bowman’s capsule of
kidney, alveolar walls of lungs,
lining of blood vessels (both
endothelial and mesothelial
lining).
4. Function –transfer of gases,
nutrients, waste products
between the blood vessels and
surrounding tissues.
 Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

1. Single layer of cubic or square

shaped cells; length, breadth and
height is of same measurement.
2. Nucleus –single, round and
centrally located.
3. Sites – lining of thyroid follicles,
small ducts, kidney tubules and
adult ovary.
4. Function – secretory function.
 Simple Columnar Epithelium

1. Single layer tall, pillar or

column-shaped cells
2. Nucleus –single, tall/elongated
and located at the base, follows
the shape of the cell
3. Sites –lining of GI tracts from
stomach to upper half of anal
canal and lining of uterine tubes
4. Functions –absorption, lining
and secretion
 Pseudostratified Columnar
Epithelium
1. Only one layer of cells but appears
to have more than one layer: cells
mostly column-shaped
2. Nuclei – are located at different
levels
3. All cells rest on basement
membrane but not all reach surface
4. 2 types:
i. Pseudo-stratified columnar
ciliated epithelium e.g. trachea,
bronchi & epididymis.
ii. Non-ciliated e.g. penile
urethra.
 Stratified Epithelium

1. More than one layer of cells,

only lowest layer rest on
basement membrane.
2. Divided into 4 types:
i. Stratified squamous epithelium
ii. Stratified cuboidal epithelium
iii. Stratified columnar epithelium
iv. Transitional epithelium
 Stratified Squamous Epithelium

1. Many cell layers.

2. 3 types of cell present:
i. Basal layer – composed of
cuboidal. columnar cells , resting
on basement membrane.
ii. Middle layer – polyhedral,
gradually flattened into short,
spindle shaped forms.
iii. Superficial layer – few layers of
flat or squamous cells. Nucleus –
single, flat and central in position.
iv. Nucleus – single, spherical or oval
and central in position.
 Stratified Squamous Epithelium
keratin

1. Divided into two types:

i. Stratified squamous
keratinized epithelium
e.g. skin, fingernails.
ii. Stratified squamous non-
keratinized epithelium
e.g. oesophagus, vagina.
2. Function - protection
 Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

1. Normally only 2 layers of

cuboidal cells.
2. Superficial layer – cells in
cuboidal shaped.
3. Lower layer may be rounded
or flat.
4. Sites – lining of ducts of
sweat glands.
5. Function – protection and
secretion.
 Stratified Columnar Epithelium

1. 2 layers columnar shape cells.

2. Only difference superficial layer
– cells is column-shaped.
3. Sites – conjunctiva, lactiferous
duct of mammary gland,
cavernous portion of male
urethra.
4. Function – protection.
 Transitional Epithelium

1. Lines hollow organs that are

subjected to tension.
2. Site – urinary bladder, ureter, 1st
part of urethra.
3. Contains 3 groups of cells:
i. superficial
umbrella shaped – nucleus: single,
flat, central
ii. middle
pear-shaped cells – nucleus:
single, flat, central
iii. Basal
polyhedral cells – nucleus: single,
round, central.
 Transitional Epithelium

1. Transitional epithelium – is
seen when the organ is relaxed
and urinary bladder is empty.
2. If urinary bladder is full with
urine – cells become irregular
stretched and flat.
3. Whole epithelium has only 2-3
layers.
4. After urination – transform to
original stage.
5. Function – protection and
distensibility.
 Transitional Epithelium

1. Lines organs subjected

to tension.
2. Allows stretching
without breaking cells
apart form one
another.
3. No leakage of urine
during stretched stage.
 Glandular Epithelium

1. Specialized to perform a secretory

function.
2. 2 types:
i. exocrine glands secrete out
through the ducts.
ii. endocrine glands secrete directly
into blood (no duct).
 Classification of Glands

1. According to number of cells;

unicellular glands (Goblet
cells) intestine, multicellular
(Pancreas)
• Goblet cells are specialized for
secreting mucus.
• Mixture of glycoproteins and
proteoglycans.
• Mucous is secreted at the apical
surface.
• It helps to protect the cells in
gut wall from the contents of
the gut.
• Exocrine pancreas secrete
digestive enzymes.
 Mucous gland

2. According to nature of
secretion
• Secretes – mucin(viscous,
thick secretion).
• Large acini
• Nuclei – flat and situated at
the base of cells.
• Cytoplasm – vacuolated and
basophilic.
• Sites – sublingual salivary
gland.
 Serous Gland

1. Secretes thin and watery fluid

containing enzymes.
2. Secretory acini – small in size
with rounded lumen.
3. Serous secreting cells –
triangular in shape with apices
directed towards lumen.
4. Nucleus – round and near to the
base of cell eg. parotid gland.
5. Cytoplasm – deeply basophilic
due to presence of abundant RNA
between nucleus and base; rest
acidophilic due to presence of
zymogen granules.
 Mixed Gland

1. Presence of both serous and

mucous secreting units.
2. Serous secreting units -semi-
lunar, crescent-shaped capped
over mucous acini known as
serous demilunes.
3. Sites – submandibular gland.
Classification of Glands

3. According to Mode of secretion

• Merocrine gland (eccrine gland)
• Apocrine gland
• Holocrine gland
 Merocrine Gland

1. Glands discharge the secretory

materials without loosing any
part of secretory cells.
2. Most abundant form of
multicellular exocrine gland.
3. Products are secreted by
exocytosis. 
4. Plasma membrane intact.
5. E.g. sweat glands
i. pancreas
 Apocrine Gland

1. Part of secretion is discharged

along with secretory materials
and part of the cell.
2. Cell still intact.
3. E.g. sweat gland of axilla,
mammary gland.
 Holocrine Gland

1. Secretory material secreted by

total disintegration of cells
within the glands.
2. E.g. sebaceous glands of skin.
3. Meibomian glands of the eyelid.
 Classification of Glands

4) According to shape of
secretory unit
a. Tubular hollow cylinder or
tubular in shape
b. Alveolar/Acinar globular to
pear-shaped ending with
alveolus-like/rounded at the
ends,
 Classification of Glands

5) According to duct system

a) Single gland (simple) – single and un-branched
i. Simple Tubular - straight tubular e.g. intestinal crypt
ii. Coiled tubular e.g. sweat gland
iii. Branched tubular e.g. stomach
iv. Simple acinar/alveolar – (e.g. sebaceous gland)
v. Simple Tubulo-alveolar (e.g. small salivary glands of oral cavity)
 Classification of Glands

b) Compound gland
i. Duct divides into many parts.
ii. Consists of many lobules.
iii. Lobular duct join and drain
into one main excretory duct.
iv. Compound tubular e.g.
kidney.
v. Compound alveolar e.g.
mammary gland.
vi. Compound tubulo-alveolar
e.g. large salivary glands,
pancreas.
 Clinical Relevance

1. Carcinoma – malignant tumour of

epithelial cell origin
2. Adenocarcinoma – malignant
tumour glandular tissue origin
3. Neoplasia – abnormal growth of
epithelial cells
4. Metaplasia – during abnormal
condition, one type of epithelial
tissue transformed into another
type
5. E.g. heavy cigarette smokers
pseudostratified ciliated
epithelium  stratified squamous
epithelium
 References

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4th edition. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Ltd.
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Correlated Cell and Molecular Biology. 8th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.
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