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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Epithelial Tissue
 Epithelial tissue composed of cells covers all internal and external body surfaces
(i.e., skin, nasal cavity, gut, renal tubule).
 Epithelia (singular: epithelium) lie on a thin basement membrane which
separates epithelium from connective tissue. The major components of
basement membrane are glycoproteins and collagen.
 Epithelia are themselves avascular but are present on an underlying layer of
vascular connective tissue, the (lamina propria). The metabolites and oxygen
diffuse through lamina propria to epithelium.
 When epithelium is moistened by secretions of mucous glands present in
epithelium or lamina propria, the two together (epithelium and lamina propria)
are called mucosa, for example, in lining of intestines, genital tract and urinary
tracts.
 Epithelial cells have good capacity of regeneration, they undergo mitosis and
replace damaged cells with new cells.

Functions of Epithelia
Major functions of epithelia are as follows:
1. Protection and barrier: The epithelium covers entire external and internal
surfaces of body and forms a barrier.

2. Absorption: The epithelium of intestine is involved in absorption of water and

digested food from lumen of intestine.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

3. Secretion: The epithelial cells of all glands are secretory.

4. Selective permeability: The epithelium permits passage of certain substances
through epithelial layer. For example, gaseous exchange between alveolar air
sac and blood in the pulmonary capillaries occurs because the epithelia lining
them allow passage of gases.
5. Sensory perception: Specialized epithelial tissue in sense organs, innervated by
sensory nerve endings, helps in sensory perception.
6. Excretion: Epithelia of kidney tubules excrete waste products from body. The
epithelial cells of sweat glands excrete sweat from body.

Types of Epithelium:
Simple epithelium Pseudostratified epithelium Stratified epithelium
(one layer of cells) (layers of cells with nuclei at (two or more layers
different levels; not all cells reach of cells)
surface but all adhere to
basement membrane)
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Simple Squamous epithelium:

 It is composed of a one layer of flattened cells (width is much greater than height)
forming a continuous surface.
 The nuclei of cells are flattened.
 This facilitates transport and rapid diffusion across epithelium.
 Examples: It lines blood vessels (endothelium); body cavities such as pleural,
pericardial and peritoneal cavities (mesothelium); and Bowman’s capsule (renal
corpuscle in kidney).

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

 Square/cuboidal cell shape.
 Nucleus of each cell is round and centrally placed
 These cells usually active in excretion, secretion or
absorption and it offers some protection against
toxic substances, mechanical injury, invasion of
microorganisms and excessive water loss.
 Examples: It is present in thyroid follicles, small
ducts of glands, tubules of kidney and surface of
ovaries.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Simple Columnar epithelium

 The height of cells is greater than their width.
 Nuclei are elongated and close to base of cells
 Functions: The main function of simple columnar
epithelium is secretion and absorption. It also acts as
a barrier and offers some protection against toxic
substances and invasion of microorganisms.
 Examples: It lines the internal surface of stomach, intestines, gallbladder and uterus.

Pseudostratified Epithelium
 In this type of epithelium, all cells rest on
basement membrane but only some of them
reach surface.
 The cells are in different heights, their nuclei
are at different levels. This gives a false
impression that epithelium consists of two or
more layers
 Pseudostratified columnar epithelium lined respiratory airway and part of male
reproductive system:

Respiratory airway Male reproductive system (epididymis)

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar There is No cilia but the apical surface
epithelium (apical surface have cilia) have stereo-cilia
pseudostratified columnar epithelium There is no goblet cell
with goblet cells
Functions of pseudostratified columnar
epithelium are secretion of mucus and Absorption is the main function
respiratory airway protection
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Stratified Epithelium
Stratified epithelia contain two or more layers of cells. They are further classified on
basis of shape of cells in topmost layer. Cells in deeper layers have different shapes.

1- Stratified squamous epithelium

It occurs in two forms—keratinized and non-keratinized.
Keratinized Stratified squamous Non-keratinized Stratified squamous
epithelium epithelium
Cells in deepest layer are columnar (1) and
cuboidal (2) in shape. These cuboidal cells Same as Keratinized but its thickness is
gradually flatten in superficial layers (3) and less
their nuclei become flat.
Near surface of epithelium, cells are
keratinized and make the surface dry. These It does not have a superficial layer of
cells are dead and flat in shape, without a dead cells (non-keratinized)
nucleus (4).
It lines wet surfaces such as oral cavity,
It is present in skin (which is a dry surface) esophagus, vagina, anal canal and
vocal cords.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

2- Stratified cuboidal and columnar epithelia

 Two-layered cuboidal epithelium is seen in the ducts of some glands such as
sweat and salivary glands.
 Two or more-layered columnar epithelium is seen in larger ducts of some glands
and conjunctiva.
 Both stratified cuboidal and columnar epithelia provide a protection and barrier
function.

3- Transitional epithelium
 It is a stratified epithelium, with capacity to
stretch.
 It lines most of urinary passage (urinary
bladder, ureter and urethra); hence, it is
also called urothelium.
 Basal cells are columnar.
 Cells superficial to basal cells are cuboidal.
 On surface, cells are large and dome
shaped; some of surface cells may have two
nuclei.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

 Transitional epithelium has ability to stretch because the cells have ability to
change her shape.

Relax state Stretched state

Transitional epithelium is 5 to 6 layers Transitional epithelium become flat and
thick appear 2 to 3 layers

Surface Specializations of Epithelial Cells

1- Microvilli: are shorter, motile, finger-shaped extensions arising from apical
surface of epithelial cells and main function is to increase surface area of
epithelial cells. They are found in epithelia act for absorption, for example, small
intestine.
2- Stereocilia: are non-motile, longer than microvilli which appear like thread-
shaped extensions from epithelial cells. They increase surface area of cell present
on epithelial cells of epididymis and inner ear.
3- Cilia: are elongated, motile extensions from cell surface propel the fluid present on
epithelial. They are present on epithelial cells of larger airways of respiratory tract.
4- Flagella: like a cilia, but it is longer. In humans, spermatozoa are only cells which
bear one flagella.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Junctional Complexes
The epithelial cells are tightly attached to each other or to extracellular matrix by
specialized junctions:
1. Occluding junction (tight junction or zonula occludens)
2. Adherens junction Zonula adherens (adhesive belt)
3. Desmosome (macula adherens)
4. Gap junction: are important cell-to-cell contacts that facilitate
communication between cells.
5. Hemidesmosome

Glands
Epithelial secretory cells organized along with supportive connective tissue to form a
gland. Glands can be:
Exocrine glands release their secretory product through ducts.
Endocrine glands release their secretory product into bloodstream.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

Classification of exocrine gland

1. Unicellular Glands:
Consisting of single cells; the only example for this type of gland is goblet cell,
which secretes mucus (mucin). Found in intestinal and respiratory mucosa.

2. Multicellular Glands:
Consist of many secretory cells that’s have ducts which convey their secretory
product to the surface. Classified according to:

A- The shape of secretory unit into

Tubular gland Acinar gland Alveolar gland

Secretory unit is tubular Secretory unit is round. Secretory unit is round
(like a tube) in shape and hollow.

e.g. intestinal glands e.g. sebaceous glands e.g. Mammary gland

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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

B- The Number of ducts into:

Simple gland Compound gland

Duct is unbranched Duct is branched

e.g. Gastric glands of stomach e.g. Brunner's glands of duodenum

C- The Secretory mechanisms into:

Merocrine Apocrine Holocrine

Secretory vesicles open Part of apical cytoplasm of The plasma membrane of

onto surface of cell and cells is lost along with the secretory cell breaks down
secretory product is secretory product. and releases its secretion
discharged (exocytosis) and cell dies.
from cell without any loss The lost cell is replaced by a
of cell substance. new cell.

e.g. goblet cell. e.g. mammary glands and e.g. sebaceous glands.
apocrine sweat glands.
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Histology 2 – Epithelial Tissue Dr. Fadhil H. Ahmed

D- The Nature of secretory product into:

Serous gland Mucous gland Mixed gland

The secretion is watery The secretion is thick Contain both types of
viscous. secretion (serous &
mucous)
e.g. sweat glands e.g. Brunner's glands, e.g., salivary glands
goblet cells