Learning Objectives

• Explains the concept of tissue, counts four basic tissue

types.
• Explains the histogenesis of epithelial tissue by giving
examples.
• Tells the structure and functions of epithelial tissue.
• Classifies epithelial tissue.
• Defines the polarity (polarization) properties of epithelial
cells.
• Classifies the covering epithelium.
• Counts the types of single-layer epithelium, defines their
microscopic and functional properties.
• Counts the types of stratified epithelium, defines their
microscopic and functional properties.
• Explains the concept of pseudostratified epithelium,
defines its microscopic and functional properties.
• Classifies the secretory epithelium.
• Defines microscopic and functional properties of
Exocrine and Endocrine glands
Asst Prof Ender Deniz Asmaz
Dept.of Histology&Embryology
 What is TISSUES ???

 Are larger structural and

functional units of cells
having closely related
functions joined together
by intercellular
substances and/or cell-
to-cell junctions

►A group of cells that all perform the same specific

function
Human body consist four types of tissue:

 Epithelial tissue.
 Connective tissue.
 Muscle tissue.
 Nervous tissue (neuronal
tissue)
BASIC TYPES OF TISSUES

Epithelial tissues
These tissues
Connective tissues
function in
close
Muscular tissues
association
Nervous tissues with each
other.
Introduction
Epithelial tissue, also known as the epithelium,
is one of the four tissues found in the human
body. It exists in various parts of the body, such
as our digestive system, outer surfaces of organs
and blood vessels throughout the body, as well as
the inner surfaces of cavities in many internal
organs.
 Types of Epithelia
Epithelia can be divided into two main groups: covering (or lining)
epithelia and secretory (glandular) epithelia. Even if we separate
them in this way, it is often seen that they are functional in the same
tissue at the same time.(e.g, mucous cells in the small intestine or
trachea)

FUNCTIONS OF EP. TISSUES

 Covering, lining, and protecting surfaces (e.g. skin)
 Absorption (e.g. intestines)
 Secretion (e.g. epithelial cells of glands)
 Contractility (e.g. myoepithelial cells)
Organ Components:
 Most organs can be divided into:

The parenchyma, which is composed of the cells responsible

for the organ’s specialized functions.

The stroma, the cells of which have a supporting role in the

organ. Except in the brain and spinal cord, the stroma is always
connective tissue.
Most Organs Parenchyma Stroma
 EMBRYONIC ORIGIN OF EPITHELIAL TISSUES
 Epithelial tissues are derived from all of the embryological
germ layers: from ectoderm (e.g., the epidermis); from
endoderm (e.g., the lining of the gastrointestinal tract); from
mesoderm (e.g., the inner linings of body cavities)

germinal
layers
 Most epithelia are adjacent to connective tissue containing
blood vessels from which the epithelial cells receive nutrients and
O 2.
 Even thick epithelium normally does not contain blood vessels.

 The connective tissue that

underlies the epithelia lining the
organs of the digestive,
respiratory, and urinary systems
is called the lamina propria
 The area of contact between the
two tissues may be increased
by small evaginations called
papillae projecting from the
connective tissue into the
epithelium.
These connective tissue papillae contain
numerous blood capillaries. Thus, a large
surface is created for the nutrition of the
epithelium.
Basement Membrane
The basal surface of all epithelia rests on a thin extracellular, felt-
like sheet of macromolecules referred to as the basement
membrane
Basement membrane components:
Basement membranes have five major components:
• Type IV collagen
• Laminin
• Heparan sulfate
• Nidogen
• Perlecan

There are numerous minor and poorly characterized protein and

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) components.
 Glycoproteins and
other components in this
structure
can often be and

stained visualized light

with the
microscope.

This section of kidney shows the well-stained

basement membranes (arrows) of epithelia forming
structures within the large, round renal glomerulus
and its surrounding tubules.
 With the transmission electron microscope (TEM) two parts of the
basement membrane may be resolved:

• Nearest the epithelial cells is the basal lamina, a thin,

electron- dense, sheet-like layer of fine fibrils.

• And beneath this layer is a more diffuse and fibrous

reticular lamina.
Basement membrane is composed of two layers:
1 Basal lamina
2 Reticular lamina
• The ultrastructural components of
the basement membrane are
revealed by TEM.

• More diffuse reticular lamina

(RL) containing
collagen III fibers.

• Hemidesmosomes (H) bind the

basal surface of the epithelial cell
(C) to the basal lamina.
 Layers of basal lamina:
 Lamina Lucida:
 Lamina Densa:

Lamina lucida: The clear layer

closer to the epithelium.

Lamina densa: the dense layer

closer to the connective tissue
 Functions of basal lamina:

1 Support

2 Selective barrier

3 Influencing cell polarity

4 Regulation of proliferation and differentiation

5- Affect cell-cell interaction

6- Pathway for cell migration

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF
EP. TISSUES

Surface • Covering ep. (skin)

• Lining ep. (luminal surfaces
epithelium of visceral organs)

Glandular • Elaborate (synthesize;

produce)
epithelium • Release (secretions) NOTE:

Some surface
epithelium are also
secretory epithelium
 Epithelial Tissue Classification

based on

Cell layers
+
Cell shapes
+
Specializations on apical surface
CLASSIFICATION OF SURFACE EP.
TISSUES ACCDG TO NUMBER OF
LAYERS
Simple Ep.

Stratified Ep.
These tissues are further
classified according to
their:
 shape
 surface
 SIMPLE EPITHELIAL TISSUES

Simple Squamous
Epithelium
Simple Cuboidal
Epithelium
Simple Columnar
Epithelium
Pseudostratified
Columnar
Epithelium
Squamous

Cuboidal

Columnar

Classification based on cell shape

1. SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
- single layer, thin, flattened cells

Functions
Lining Lung alveoli, parietal layer of the Bowman’s
capsule (kidneys)

MESOTHELIUM - Serous cavities (pericardium,

peritoneum, pleura)
ENDOTHELIUM – lining of vessels/luminal
Movement Facilitates
surface the movement
(heart, of the viscera
blood, lymphatic vessels)
(mesothelium)
Active transport by pinocytosis (mesothelium
and endothelium)
Secretion Secretion of biologically active molecules
(mesothelium)
Nuclei of the simple sq.
ep.
(KIDNEYS)
2. SIMPLE CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
-single layer, square, round
nucleus at center, roughly as tall
as they are wide

Functions:
 absorption
 barrier
 secretion

Ex: small ducts of exocrine glands,

surface of ovary, kidney tubules,
thyroid follicles, pancreas
renal collecting tubule

pancreatic duct

mesothelium covering
an ovary
3. SIMPLE COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
-Single layer, tall cells, nuclei form a
single row at the basal part of the cell

Functions:
 absorption
 secretion
 lubrication
 protection

Ex. lining of fallopian tube, gallbladder,

stomach, intestine, ducts of exocrine
glands
3. SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
CILIATED SIMPLE COLUMNAR
EP. – fallopian tube, uterus,
ovary
renal collecting duct

oviduct lining, with both

secretory and ciliated cells

lining of the gall

bladder
4. PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
“False stratified epithelium”
- Cells are attached to basal lamina even
though their nuclei lie at different levels.
- The height of some cells does not
extend
to the surface
Functions:
 protection
 transport of particles trapped in mucus
out of
air passages
 secretion
 4. PSEUDOSTRATIFIED COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
Ex: lining of the membranous and spongy part of the male
urethra
Ciliated
pseudostratified ep.
(respiratory ep.)

- lining of trachea, bronchi,

nasal cavity
 STRATIFIED EPITHELIAL TISSUES

Stratified Squamous
Epithelium
Stratified Cuboidal
Epithelium
Stratified Columnar
Epithelium
Transitional
Epithelium
Simple
Apical surface

Basal surface

Stratified
Apical surface

Basal surface

Classification based on number of cell layers

1. STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
EPITHELIUM
• “dry”; superficial layers are dead cells; no •“wet”; kept moist by glandular
secretions
nucleus & organelles
• Cells closer to the underlying connective • Flattened cells retain their nuclei
tissue are usually cuboidal or low • Lines wet cavities
columnar
• Impervious to water • Ex. Mouth, vagina, esophagus, urethra,
cornea
• Ex. epidermis

Non-
Keratinized
keratinized
Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
2. STRATIFIED CUBOIDAL
EPITHELIUM
Functions:
 Protection
 Secretion

Ex. Sweat glands, salivary

glands, developing ovarian
follicles
3. STRATIFIED COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
- Lines large ducts of some
glands
4. TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM/
UROTHELIUM
Umbrella cells – domelike cells
that are protective against
hypertonic and potentially
- Unique to mammals cytotoxic effects of
urine(superficial cells)
-manifest features that are between
stratified squamous and stratified
cuboidal
- designed to withstand stretching

Cuboidal
(basal cells)
 4. TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIUM/
UROTHELIUM
Location: lining of the renal calyces, renal pelvis, urinary bladder, ureter, and upper
part of the urethra

And it is characterized by a superficial layer of large, dome-like cells sometimes called

umbrella cells. Stratified cells appear cuboidal when not stretched and squamous when
stretched.
- the form of the surface cells changes according to the degree of distention of the
bladder wall
 Transitional epithelium lines much of the urinary tract

 Transitional epithelium cells are specialized to protect underlying

tissues from the hypertonic and potentially cytotoxic effects of
urine.

 Transitional epithelium deals with changing volume of fluid in an

organ, protects from urine contact.

 Importantly, unique morphological features of the cells allow

distension of transitional epithelium as the urinary bladder fills.
Transitional epithelium
Common types of covering epithelia
GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM
GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM

Glandular
Glands Secretions
epithelium
Exocrine
&Endocrine glands
 Glands develop from covering epithelia in the fetus by cell
proliferation and growth into the underlying connective tissue,
followed by further differentiation:

 Exocrine glands
 Endocrine glands
Formation of glands from covering epithelia
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
- Ductless glands

Secretions: HORMONES
(chemical messengers)

Ex: adrenal gland, thyroid

gland, islets of Langerhans
(pancreas)
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands lose the connection to their original epithelium and
therefore lack ducts. Thin-walled blood vessels (capillaries) adjacent
to endocrine cells, absorb their secreted hormone products, for
transport in blood to target cells throughout the body.

Ep: Epithelium
bv:
EXOCRINE GLANDS
Multicellular glands
 Secretory ep. sheet (e.g. ependymal – lines the choroid
plexus w/c produces CSF)
 Intraepithelial gland (e.g. penile urethra – secretory cells that
gather around a small orifice and form shallow invaginations)
 Glands with ducts – (e.g. major salivary glands, pancreas,
liver - possess “true” ducts)
EXOCRINE GLANDS
Unicellular glands
- Exemplified by the goblet
cells
- Lines respiratory and
digestive tract
 CLASSIFICATION OF EXOCRINE GLANDS
BASED ON MORPHOLOGY OF DUCT

• single,
Simple unbranched
duct

• duct
Compound
with
branches
SECRETORY UNITS OF
EXOCRINE GLANDS
TUBULAR GLANDS
 Secretory tubules – blind ending tubes
Further
ACINOUS OR ALVEOLAR GLANDS classified
into
 Acini; alveoli – globular or basket-like structures

TUBULOALVEOLAR (TUBULOACINOUS) GLAND BRANCHED

or COILED
SIMPLE TUBULAR
Crypts of Lieberkuhn
(intestinal glands)
SIMPLE COILED TUBULAR
Sweat glands
SIMPLE BRANCHED TUBULAR
Cardiac glands
(stomach)
SIMPLE ACINAR
Urethral gland)
SIMPLE BRANCHED ACINAR
Sebaceous glands
COMPOUND BRANCHED
TUBULAR
Brunner's glands in the
duodenum
COMPOUND ACINAR
Pancreas ( exocrine
part)
COMPOUND TUBULO-ACINAR
Major salivary glands
(parotid,
submandibular,
sublingual)
BASED ON TYPE OF SECRETION
MUCOUS CELLS (mucus secreting)
🢝 Mucin containing – forms mucus that lubricates the
covering epithelia
🢝 Ex. Sublingual gland

SEROUS CELLS (serous secreting)

🢝 enzymes
🢝 Ex. Parotid gland, pancreas

Mixed gland – both are present; mucinous cell capped by

serous demilunes (“mucoserous”)
🢝 Ex. submandibular gland
Mechanisms of Glandular Secretion

Endocrine glands secrete substances directly

into bloodstream and exocrine glands secrete
substances into ducts.

Exocrine glands are classified into merocrine, apocrine, and

holocrine based on their mechanisms of secretion.
Releasing exocrine glands
products mechanisms:
Three basic types of secretion are used by cells of exocrine
glands, depending on what substance is being secreted:

 Merocrine secretion
 Holocrine secretion
 Apocrine secretion
(a)Merocrine secretion releases products, usually containing proteins, by
means of exocytosis at the apical end of the secretory cells. Most exocrine
glands are merocrine.

Merocrine (eccrine) - exocytosis, cell remains intact

Ex. Pancreatic acinar cells, major salivary glands
Holocrine secretion
In holocrine secretion, best seen in the sebaceous gland adjacent to hair follicles, entire cells
fill with a lipid-rich product as they differentiate.

Mature (terminally differentiated) cells release the lipid that protects and lubricates adjacent
skin and hair.

Holocrine - whole cell disintegrates when it secretes

(a)Apocrine secretion involves loss of membrane-
enclosed apical cytoplasm, usually containing one or
more lipid droplets. Apocrine secretion, along with
merocrine secretion, is seen in mammary glands
Apocrine - secretes product with apical portion of cell;
Ex. Sweat glands, lactating mammary glands…..
Mechanisms of exocrine gland secretion
END.