Histology and Embryology

Medical School Of Southeast University

Wu Xiaojing

wuxiaojing0204@hotmail.com
 covering epithelium
epithelial tissue glandular epithelium

connective tissue proper

cartilaginous tissue
connective tissue
bone tissue
blood

skeletal muscle
muscular tissue myocardium
Smooth muscle

central nervous system

nerve tissue peripheral nervous system
epithelial tissue

connective tissue

muscular tissue

nerve tissue
Conception
Epithelium is one of the four basic tissues, with a wide
distribution and many functions. It consists of continuous
sheets of cells that cover exposed body surfaces. It also
lines internal cavities, such as those of the digestive,
respiratory, cardiovascular, and genitourinary systems.
Epithelial tissues are composed of closely aggregated
polyhedral cells with strong adhesion to one another
and attached to a thin layer of ECM.
 Characteristic

Closely aggregated apical (or free) surface

Polyhedral(Polarity ) lateral surfaces

Boiling water scald
No blood vessel basal surface

Be rich in sensory nerve ending

Function

Covering, lining, and protecting surfaces (eg, epidermis)

Absorption (eg, the intestinal lining)
Secretion (eg, parenchymal cells of glands)
 Classification of epithelia

simple squamous epithelium

simple cuboidal epithelium
simple columnar epithelium
pseudostratifid ciliated columnar epithelium
stratified squamous epithelium
stratified columnar epithelium
transitional epithelium
1. Simple squamous epithelium.

Structure: single layer squamous epithelium

shaped like scales ， serrated outlines
nucleus ellipse, thick, in the center of cell

distribution ：
endothelium ： inner surface of cardiovascular 、 lymph-vessel
mesothelium ： pleura, cardiac pericardium ,Bowman's capsule

Function ： Facilitates the movement

reduce friction
endothelium
Mesothelium
 2.simple cuboidal eoithelium

Structure: single layer cuboidal epithelium ， height roughly equals their width
in sections perpendicular to the surface, cells resemble small box-like

cubes
one spherical, centrally placed nucleus

distribution ： renal tubule and small collecting ducts of the kidney,

spherical follicles of these cuboidal cells in thyroid ；

Function ： engage in ion
ovary surface
transport
 renal collecting tubule

a large thyroid follicle

3. Simple columnar epithelium

Sructure: taller than they are wide ， closely packed, slender columns;
nucleus ovoid, centrally or basally placed ；
Free surfaces microvilli—thin, fingerlike cellular projections

which increased surface area;

Distribution ： convoluted tubules of the kidney

inner lining of the stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder:

Function: protection
absorption
small intestines

Goblet cell: secretion

4. pseudostratifid ciliated columnar
epithelium

Sructure: more than one type of epithelial cell,

nuclei usually appear at different levels,
basal layer :basal cells
apical layers: tall columnar cells, with cilia on their free surfaces
All cells contact an underlying basement membrane

Distribution: respiratory epithelium: upper respiratory tract with goblet

cells in the epithelial cells and ciliated columnar cells

Function: rid airways of foreign particles by sweeping, coordinated ciliary

motion.
sputum
No smoking!

chronic bronchitis
5. stratified squamous epithelium

Sructure: tough, resilient multilayered epithelium with and

keratinized ： surface layer consists of dead cells lacking nuclei and
containing plates of the protein keratin with a dry, scale-like surface
；
nonkeratinized ： fluid and with a moist surface ， retain nuclei and

lack keratin

Distribution: keratinized ： In areas exposed to air and subject to abrasion,

nonkeratinized ： oral cavity, vagina, parts of the male and female
urethra, esophagus,

Function: keratinized ： strengthens and waterproofs the tissue,

nonkeratinized. ： protection
6. transitional epithelium （ Urothelium ）

Its appearance is not static. It rapidly adapts to contraction and

distention; it changes from a tall epithelium with five to seven
cell layers (empty state) to a thinner epithelium with only two
or three cell layers (distended state).
Special structural in apical, basal and lateral surface

Micovilla
apical
cilia

tight junction
intermediate junction
lateral
desmosome
gap junction

basement membranae
Basal hemidesmosome
plasma membrane infolding
 Lateral Surface Features

Cell membranes interact with extracellular matrix by

adhesive contacts consisting of cell adhesion molecules.

Cells also show more specialized modifications of plasma

membranes—intercellular junctions of different kinds.
There are three major types: tight, anchoring and gap
junctions.

Only observed in EM.

Membrane Junctions: Tight Junction

plasma membranes of adjacent cells appear fused at one or more focal contact
sites that eliminate intervening extracellular spaces. Each contact site contains
transmembrane proteins, Other cytoplasmic proteins, as well as cadherin
proteins,reinforce the sites.

closest to the luminal surface, form an occluding,belt-like seal between cells.

form permeability barriers to prevent indiscriminate passage of material

The basis for the blood-brain, blood-ocular, and blood-testis barriers.

• Integral proteins of adjacent
cells fuse together
• Completely encircle the cell
and form an adhesion belt.
• Form an impermeable
junction.
• Common near apical region
 Lateral Surface Features Anchoring Junctions
Occur between lateral borders of adjacent epithelial cells.

Resist mechanical stress and prevent lateral disruption by stabilizing the epithelium.

Transmembrane proteins, consisting mostly of cadherin molecules, are

on both sides of the junction. Their extracellular domains span the
narrow gap (20 nm) between adjacent cells; their intracellular domains
interact with other cytoplasmic proteins (vinculin and a-actinin) to
anchor actin filaments of the cytoskeleton.

 Desmosomes – two disc-like plaques connected across intercellular space

 Plaques of adjoining cells are joined by proteins called cadherins
 Proteins interdigitate into extracellular space
 Intermediate filaments insert into plaques from cytoplasmic side
 Membrane Junctions:
Linker proteins extend
Desmosomefrom plaque like teeth of
a zipper.
Intermediate filaments
extend across width of
cell.

• Common in superficial layers of skin; skin

peels after a sunburn
• Reduces chance of tearing, twisting, stretching
Figure 3.5b
 Membrane Junctions: Gap Junction
Metabolic, ionic, and low-resistance electrical communication occurs between adjacent
cells via gap junctions, in which a narrow gap of about 2 nm separates opposing cell
membranes. Gap junctions are difficult to discern in routine Ems.

Gap junctions are specialized sites composed of large, tightly packed intercellular
channels, which connect cytoplasm of adjacent cells.

Gap junctions are specialized sites composed of large, tightly packed intercellular
Channels.

Six symmetric protein subunits, called connexins, that are transmembrane

proteins surrounding a small central aqueous pore (diameter: 1.5-2.0 nm).
• Connexon proteins are trans-
membrane proteins.
• Present in electrically excitable
tissues (heart, smooth muscle)
 Basal Feature: The Basal Lamina

 Noncellular supporting sheet between the epithelium

and the connective tissue deep to it
 Consists of proteins secreted by the epithelial cells
 Functions:
 Acts as a selective filter, determining which molecules
from capillaries enter the epithelium
 Acts as scaffolding along which regenerating epithelial
cells can migrate
 Basal lamina and reticular layers of the underlying
connective tissue deep to it form the basement
membrane
Basal Lamina
 Epithelial Surface Features
 Apical surface features
 Microvilli – finger-like extensions of plasma membrane
• Abundant in epithelia of small intestine and kidney
• Maximize surface area across which small molecules
enter or leave （ observed only in EM ）

 Cilia – whip-like, highly motile extensions of apical

surface membranes （ observed in light microscope
）
• Movement of cilia – in coordinated waves
Plasmamembrane 　 infolding