HISTOLOGY

Lecture 4: Anaphy 111

 Histology
• the branch of
anatomy that
deals with the
study of
tissues.
 Tissue
• Groups of cells
similar in structure
and function
• The four types of
tissues:
– Epithelial
– Connective
– Muscle
– Nervous
 Epithelial Tissue

• Characteristics:
– Cellularity – composed almost
entirely of cells
– Special contacts – form continuous
sheets held together by tight
junctions and desmosomes
– Polarity – apical and basal surfaces
– Supported by connective tissue –
reticular and basal laminae
– Avascular but innervated –
contains no blood vessels but
supplied by nerve fibers
– Regenerative – rapidly replaces
lost cells by cell division
 Classification of Epithelia

• Simple or stratified:
depends on the number
of cell layers.
• Squamous, cuboidal, or
columnar: depends on
the shape.
 Simple Squamous

• Single layer of flattened cells

with disc-shaped nuclei and
sparse cytoplasm
• Functions
– Diffusion and filtration
– Provide a slick, friction-
reducing lining in lymphatic
and cardiovascular systems
• Present in the kidney
glomeruli, lining of heart,
blood vessels, lymphatic
vessels, and serosae
 Simple Cuboidal

• Single layer of cubelike

cells with large, spherical
central nuclei
• Function in secretion and
absorption
• Present in kidney tubules,
ducts and secretory
portions of small glands,
and ovary surface
 Simple Columnar

• Single layer of tall cells with

oval nuclei; many contain cilia
• Goblet cells are often found in
this layer
• Function in absorption and
secretion
• Nonciliated type line digestive
tract and gallbladder
• Ciliated type line small
bronchi, uterine tubes, and
some regions of the uterus
 Pseudostratified Columnar

• Single layer of cells with

different heights; some do
not reach the free surface
• Nuclei are seen at different
layers
• Function in secretion and
propulsion of mucus
• Present in the male sperm-
carrying ducts (nonciliated)
and trachea (ciliated)
 Stratified Squamous
• Thick membrane composed
of several layers of cells
• Function in protection of
underlying areas subjected
to abrasion
• Forms the external part of
the skin’s epidermis
(keratinized cells), and
linings of the esophagus,
mouth, and vagina
(nonkeratinized cells).
 Stratified Columnar
• Several cell layers with
cuboidal basal cells and
columnar superficial
cells
• Functions in protection
and secretion
• Present in large ducts of
some glands, and in
portions of the male
urethra
 Transitional Epithelium

• Several cell layers, basal

cells are cuboidal, surface
cells are
dome shaped
• Stretches to permit the
distension of the urinary
bladder
• Lines the urinary bladder,
ureters, and part of the
urethra
 Glandular Epithelia

• A gland is one or more

cells that makes and
secretes an aqueous fluid
• Classified by:
– Site of product release –
endocrine or exocrine
• Relative number of cells
forming the gland –
unicellular or multicellular
 Endocrine Glands

• Ductless glands that

produce hormones
• Secretions include
amino acids, proteins,
glycoproteins, and
steroids
 Exocrine Glands

• More numerous than

endocrine glands
• Secrete their products onto
body surfaces (skin) or into
body cavities
• Examples include mucous,
sweat, oil, and salivary
glands
• The only important
unicellular gland is the
goblet cell
 Connective Tissue
• Found throughout the body; most abundant and widely
distributed in primary tissues
• Types:
– Connective tissue proper
– Cartilage
– Bone
– Blood
• Functions of Connective Tissue
– Binding and support
– Protection
– Insulation
– Transportation
 Characteristics of Connective Tissue
• Connective tissues have:
– Mesenchyme as their common tissue of origin
– Varying degrees of vascularity
– Nonliving extracellular matrix, consisting of
ground substance and fibers
 Structural Elements of Connective Tissue
• Ground substance – unstructured material that fills the space
between cells
– Ground Substance
• Interstitial (tissue) fluid
• Adhesion proteins – fibronectin and laminin
• Proteoglycans – glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
• Functions as a molecular sieve through which nutrients diffuse between
blood capillaries and cells
• Fibers – collagen, elastic, or reticular
– Collagen – tough; provides high tensile strength
– Elastic – long, thin fibers that allow for stretch
– Reticular – branched collagenous fibers that form delicate networks
• Cells – fibroblasts, chondroblasts, osteoblasts, and
hematopoietic stem cells
Loose Connective Tissue: has three types
 Areolar Connective tissue

• Gel-like matrix with all

three CT fibers
• Fibroblasts,
macrophages, mast
cells, and some WBCs
• Wraps and cushions
organs
• Widely distributed
throughout the body
 Adipose CT

• Matrix similar to areolar

CT with closely packed
adipocytes
• Reserve food stores,
insulates against heat loss,
and supports and protects
• Found under skin, around
kidneys, within abdomen,
and in breasts
 Reticular CT

• Loose ground substance

with reticular fibers
• Reticular cells lie in a fiber
network
• Forms a soft internal
skeleton, or stroma, that
supports other cell types
• Found in lymph nodes,
bone marrow, and the
spleen
 Dense Regular Connective tissue

• Parallel collagen fibers

with a few elastic fibers
• Major cell type is
fibroblasts
• Attaches muscles to bone
or to other muscles, and
bone to bone
• Found in tendons,
ligaments, and
aponeuroses
 Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

• Irregularly arranged collagen

fibers with some elastic
fibers
• Major cell type is fibroblasts
• Withstands tension in many
directions providing
structural strength
• Found in the dermis,
submucosa of the digestive
tract, and fibrous organ
capsules
Cartilage
 Hyaline cartilage

• Amorphous, firm matrix with

imperceptible network of
collagen fibers
• Chondrocytes lie in lacunae
• Supports, reinforces,
cushions, and resists
compression
• Forms the costal cartilage
• Found in: embryonic skeleton,
the end of long bones, nose,
trachea, and larynx
 Elastic cartilage

• Similar to hyaline
cartilage but with more
elastic fibers
• Maintains shape and
structure while allowing
flexibility
• Supports external ear
(pinna) and the
epiglottis
 Fibrocartilage

• Matrix similar to hyaline

cartilage but less firm with
thick collagen fibers
• Provides tensile strength
and absorbs compression
shock
• Found in intervertebral
discs, the pubic
symphysis, and in discs of
the knee joint
 Bone (Osseous Tissue)

• Osseous tissue
• Hard, calcified matrix with
collagen fibers found in bone
• Osteocytes are found in lacunae
and are well vascularized
• Supports, protects, and provides
levers for muscular action
• Stores calcium, minerals, and fat
• Marrow inside bones is the site
of hematopoiesis
 Blood

• Red and white cells in a

fluid matrix (plasma)
• Contained within blood
vessels
• Functions in the
transport of respiratory
gases, nutrients, and
wastes
 NERVOUS TISSUE
• Branched neurons with long
cellular processes and
support cells
• Transmits electrical signals
from sensory receptors to
effectors
• Found in the brain, spinal
cord, and peripheral nerves
• Two group of cells:
• Neurons: the basic structural
and functional unit of the
nervous system.
Types of Neuron (Structural)
Types of Neuron (Functional)
Neuroglia: the supporting cells of the
nervous system
 Neuroglia
Astrocytes
– Star-shaped cells
– Accounts for nearly half of the neural tissue
– Projections of these cells cling to the neurons, bracing them and anchoring them to the blood
capillaries.
– Form the living barrier between neurons and blood capillaries or also called the “Blood-Brain
barrier”, that regulate the chemical substances that goes in and out of the brain.
• Microglia
– Spider-like phagocytic macrophage in the central nervous system.
– Remove debris and dead cells and bacteria.
• Ependymal cells
– Line the central cavities of the brain and spinal cord.
– Ciliated cuboidal epithelial cells
– The beating of the cilia help circulate the Cerebrospinal fluid and fills those cavities and forms a
protective cushion around the CNS.
• Oligodendrocytes
– Cells that wrap their flat extensions tightly around the nerve fibers producing fatty, insulating
cover called myelin sheath.
MUSCLE TISSUE
 Skeletal muscle tissue

• Long, cylindrical,
multinucleate cells with
obvious striations
• Initiates and controls
voluntary movement
• Found in skeletal
muscles that attach to
bones or skin
 Cardiac muscle tissue

• Branching, striated,
uninucleate cells
interdigitating at
intercalated discs
• Propels blood into the
circulation
• Found in the walls of
the heart
 Smooth muscle tissue

• Sheets of spindle-shaped
cells with central nuclei
that have no striations
• Propels substances along
internal passageways
(i.e., peristalsis)
• Found in the walls of
hollow organs