1. Epithelial Tissue M.Sc. Sarah Ahmed
انسجة عملي / د . سارة (م 1 – 3 )
ثاني اسنان موصل
8 / 12 / 2015
(م 1)
Epithelial Tissue M.Sc. Sarah Ahmed

2. Epithelial Tissue Makes up 3% of your body weight
Their cells are all touching one another
Of all tissues, they are the most widely varied in structure and function

3. Locations of Epithelial Tissues
Covers the body (epidermis)
Found on the inside of hollow organs and the outside of all organs
Found above a connective tissue layer (epi = above)
Lines the cavities, tubes, ducts, and blood vessels inside the body

4. Epithelial Anatomy
Apical surface – upper surface that is free or exposed to the “exterior”
Basal surface – attached surface (below)

5. Epithelial Tissues:
Covers a body surface or lines a body cavity
Forms most glands
Functions of epithelium
Protection
Absorption, secretion, and ion transport
Filtration
Forms slippery surfaces

6. Three Basic Shapes Squamous – like scales Cuboidal – looks like cubes
Columnar – longer and look like columns

7. Simple – single layer of cells; typically found where absorption and filtration occur or a single layer of epithelial is needed
simple squamous
simple cuboidal
simple columnar
Stratified – layers of cells; common in areas where protection is needed like the skin
stratified squamous
stratified cuboidal
stratified columnar

8. The shape of the nucleus is sometimes important in distinguishing different types of epithelia
Nucleus is flattened
Nucleus is spherical
Nucleus is oblong

9. Squamous Epithelium Simple – one layer Nucleus is flattened
Forms solid layer of cells which line blood vessels, body cavities and covers organs in body cavities
Stratified – multiple layers
Forms epidermis

10. (a) Simple squamous epithelium
Description: Single layer of flattened
cells with disc-shaped central nuclei
and sparse cytoplasm; the simplest
of the epithelia.
Air sacs of
lung tissue
Function: Allows passage of
materials by diffusion and filtration
in sites where protection is not
important; secretes lubricating
substances in serosae.
Nuclei of
squamous
epithelial
cells
Location: Kidney glomeruli; air sacs
of lungs; lining of heart, blood
vessels, and lymphatic vessels; lining
of ventral body cavity (serosae).
Photomicrograph: Simple squamous epithelium
forming part of the alveolar (air sac) walls (125x).

11. Figure 4.3e Epithelial tissues.
(e) Stratified squamous epithelium
Description: Thick membrane
composed of several cell layers;
basal cells are cuboidal or columnar
and metabolically active; surface
cells are flattened (squamous); in the
keratinized type, the surface cells are
full of keratin and dead; basal cells
are active in mitosis and produce the
cells of the more superficial layers.
Stratified
squamous
epithelium
Function: Protects underlying
tissues in areas subjected to abrasion.
Nuclei
Location: Nonkeratinized type forms
the moist linings of the esophagus,
mouth, and vagina; keratinized variety
forms the epidermis of the skin, a dry
membrane.
Basement
membrane
Connective
tissue
Photomicrograph: Stratified squamous epithelium
lining the esophagus (285x).

12. Cuboidal Epithelium Simple – one layer Roughly cube shaped
Cuboid Cells
Simple – one layer
Roughly cube shaped
Nucleus is spherical
Duct
Line ducts in kidneys where re-absorption and secretion activities take place.
Cuboid Cells
Duct

13. Figure 4.3b Epithelial tissues.
(b) Simple cuboidal epithelium
Description: Single layer of
cubelike cells with large,
spherical central nuclei.
Simple
cuboidal
epithelial
cells
Function: Secretion and
absorption.
Basement
membrane
Location: Kidney tubules;
ducts and secretory portions
of small glands; ovary surface.
Connective
tissue
Photomicrograph: Simple cuboidal
epithelium in kidney tubules (430x).

15. Columnar Epithelium Simple – one layer Column shaped (long and narrow)
Lines digestive tract where re-absorption & secretion occurs.

16. Figure 4.3c Epithelial tissues.
(c) Simple columnar epithelium
Description: Single layer of tall cells
with round to oval nuclei; some cells
bear cilia; layer may contain mucus-
secreting unicellular glands (goblet cells).
Simple
columnar
epithelial
cell
Function: Absorption; secretion of
mucus, enzymes, and other substances;
ciliated type propels mucus (or
reproductive cells) by ciliary action.
Location: Nonciliated type lines most of
the digestive tract (stomach to anal canal),
gallbladder, and excretory ducts of some
glands; ciliated variety lines small
bronchi, uterine tubes, and some regions
of the uterus.
Basement
membrane
Photomicrograph: Simple columnar epithelium
of the stomach mucosa (860X).

18. “Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium”
Looks like it has more than one layer because of the position of the nucleus
Nuclei are positioned at differing levels
Cells narrow in the area without the nucleus

19. Figure 4.3d Epithelial tissues.
(d) Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Description: Single layer of cells of
differing heights, some not reaching
the free surface; nuclei seen at
different levels; may contain mucus-
secreting cells and bear cilia.
Cilia
Mucus of
mucous cell
Pseudo-
stratified
epithelial
layer
Function: Secretion, particularly of
mucus; propulsion of mucus by
ciliary action.
Location: Nonciliated type in male’s
sperm-carrying ducts and ducts of
large glands; ciliated variety lines
the trachea, most of the upper
respiratory tract.
Basement
membrane
Photomicrograph: Pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium lining the human trachea (570x).
Trachea

20. Transitional Epithelium – stratified tissue ; basal cells cuboidal or columnar; surface cells dome shaped or squamous like, depending on degree of organ stretch.
Shape of cells depends upon the amount of stretching (ex: bladder)

21. Figure 4.3f Epithelial tissues.
(f) Transitional epithelium
Description: Resembles both
stratified squamous and stratified
cuboidal; basal cells cuboidal or
columnar; surface cells dome
shaped or squamouslike, depending
on degree of organ stretch.
Transitional
epithelium
Function: Stretches readily and
permits distension of urinary organ
by contained urine.
Location: Lines the ureters, urinary
bladder, and part of the urethra.
Basement
membrane
Connective
tissue
Photomicrograph: Transitional epithelium lining the urinary
bladder, relaxed state (360X); note the bulbous, or rounded,
appearance of the cells at the surface; these cells flatten and
become elongated when the bladder is filled with urine.

22. Epithelial Tissue in Review…