HISTOLOGY OF THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

PROF. DR. FARIHAH HJ. SUHAIMI

2015/2016

NO. STRUCTURES
1

TRACHEA

BRONCHUS

LUNG

SLIDES
E4 (H&E),
E5 (Verhoeffs stain)
E6 (H&E)
E1 (H&E),
E3 (Verhoeffs stain)

TRACHEA
E4 (H&E)
E5 (Verhoeffs Eosin)

Hyaline cartilage

TRACHEA
Adventitia
Trachealis muscle

Mucosa &
Submucosa

Low magnification

TRACHEA

TRACHEA
C-shaped cartilage

trachealis muscle
(smooth muscle)
X50

TRACHEA: C-shaped cartilage

X50

Trachealis
muscle

X50

TRACHEA trachealis muscle

(smooth muscle)

TRACHEA trachealis muscle

(smooth muscle)

X100

TRACHEA trachealis muscle

X400

TRACHEA
MUCOSA
(i) Epithelium
(ii) Lamina propria

X50

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with goblet cells

TRACHEA
EPITHELIUM

Goblet cells glandular simple

columnar epithelial cells which
secrete mucus

X200

The cilia on the surface along

with mucus cause the debris
that enters the trachea to move
back up to the epiglottis -->
oesophagus --> to the GI tract.

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with goblet cells
The
epithelium
also
contains
goblet cells.
These goblet cells
are
exocrine
swollen cells in the
mucosa of the
trachea
which
secrete mucus.

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with basal cells
Basal cells are small,
round cells that reside on
the surface of the
basement membrane.
These cells act as stem
cells for the airway
epithelium and are able
to
differentiate
into
ciliated cells or goblet
cells.

TRACHEA epithelium

X400

Ciliated Pseudostratified
Columnar epithelium with
goblet cells

TRACHEA
LAMINA
PROPRIA

Loose connective tissue

Abundance of fibroelastic fibres
X200

TRACHEA Submucosa
Mucus is a thick sticky substance that acts in
collecting debris for swallowing.

Serous fluid is a thinner runny substance that is

mainly for keeping the epithelial tissue moist and
lubricated.

Mixed sero-mucous glands

X50

TRACHEA sero-mucous glands

X100

TRACHEA Adventitia
Loose connective tissue with
blood vessels, nerves and fat cells

X50

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with goblet cells

Respiratory Epithelium

BRONCHUS
E6 (H&E)

BRONCHUS

Discontinuous plates of
hyaline cartilage

X100

BRONCHUS
Lamina propria abundant elastic fibres

Shorter than tracheas epithelium

X400

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar epithelium

During asthmatic attacks,

the smooth muscle cells
in the bronchi contract
constricting the airway

Hyaline
cartilage

Smooth muscle
Progressively increasing down the
respiratory tract

BRONCHUS
X400

Muscularis mucosa layer

between lamina propria
and submucosa
Ciliated Pseudostratified
Columnar epithelium with
goblet cells

LUNG
E1 (H&E)
E3 (Verhoeffs
Eosin)

Bronchiole

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with lesser amount of
goblet cells

X100

Bronchiole

X400

Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar

epithelium with lesser amount of
goblet cells

Lung

Burkitt, Young, Heath (1993) Wheater's Functional Histology 3rd Ed. Fig. 12.12, p. 228

AS

AD

AS

X100

Elastic fibres primarily responsible for

efficient
ventilation
of
the
lungs

X200

CLARA CELLS

X200

Clara cells non-ciliated,

dome-shaped apical cell
secretory function

CLARA CELLS

X400

Interalveolar septum

Alveolar macrophages/Dust cells - removes particulate material

from the alveolar spaces

Lung interalveolar septum

Type 1
pneumocytes
A flat squamous cell

Type 2 pneumocytes
Cuboidal with roundedshaped nucleus

Capillary

Cuboidal with roundedshaped nucleus

A flat squamous cell

Blood-air barrier
Dust cells/
Alveolar
macrophages
Free within the alveolar
spaces and in the alveolar
septa.
lie within the alveolus
adjacent to a septal capillary
and Type II Pneumocytes

Alveolar
macrophages
are
considered the most important
means of eliminating pathogenic
organisms that enter the lungs.

Alveolus

Burkitt, Young, Heath (1993) Wheater's Functional Histology 3rd Ed. Fig. 12.13, p. 229

Alveoli
Alveoli Epithelium

X200

Alveoli: epithelium

X400

http://www.lebao.eu/joint-research-projects/bmbf-carpud/

Organ

Slide/Stain

Epithelium

Goblet
cells

1. Trachea

2. Bronchus

E4 H&E
E5 Verhoeffs
Eosin

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar

(respiratory epithelium)

++

Smooth muscle
(posteriorly)

C-shaped hyaline
cartilage

E6 H&E

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar

(shorter than tracheas epithelium)

++

Smooth muscle
+

Discontinuous plates of
hyaline cartilage

i. Large bronchiole

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar

Few

Smooth muscle
(prominent)
++

Clara cells
(non-ciliated, dome-shaped
apical cell)

ii. Terminal
bronchiole

Simple columnar cuboidal

(with/without cilia)

+++

Clara cells (non-ciliated)

iii. Respiratory
bronchiole

Simple cuboidal squamous

(with/without cilia)

+++

Clara cells (non- ciliated), Alveoli

iv. Alveolar duct

Squamous

Interrupted
Bundle
(At orifices)

More alveoli and alveolar sac opens into it

v. Alveolar sac & alveoli

Squamous

At orifices

Interalveolar septum:
i. type 1 Pneumocyte (flat squamous)
ii. type 2 Pneumocyte
(cuboidal with rounded nucleus)
iii. alveolar macrophage/dust cells
iv. capillary endothelium

3. Lung
4. Lung

Muscularis mucosae

Cartilage

Glands

++
(seromucous)

Special features

Trachealis muscle

E1 H&E
E3 Verhoeffs
Eosin

NOTE:
1. Muscularis mucosae layer (smooth muscle)
progressively increase down the repiratory
tract.

2. Cilia, goblet cells, cartilage and glands

progressively decrease and finally disappear
down the respiratory tract.

Happy viewing