Lecture # 3.

SURFACE EPITHELIA
Epithelia
Closely apposed cells
No or limited intercellular substances
_____________
Derived from 3 germ layers:
____________- skin
____________ - inner lining of blood vessels
____________ - inner lining of the GI tract
Epithelial tissues rest on connective tissues
________________ CT underneath digestive,
respiratory lining epithelia.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ____________________ underlying support where epithelial
cells are rested. It demarcates the underlying CT from
epithelium.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Basement membrane composition

_________________ - Membrane proteins of the epithelial

cells are anchored in the basal lamina.
The major 2 glycoproteins - ___________ and Type IV
COLLAGEN
FXN: acts as a selective, permeable filter between
epithelium and connective tissue (CT).

_________________ - Reticular fibers embedded in ground

substance that connect the basal lamina with the
underlying CT. It is synthesized by cells of the CT.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Functions of Epithelia:
Absorption - ___________
Secretion - _________
Sensation - gustative and olfactory neuroepithelium
Contractility - _____________ cells breast
_____________ quickly when subjected to trauma &
destruction.

Epithelial exposure to different matters:

Gases-integumentary & respiratory;
Liquids-circulatory & urinary;
Semisolids-GI tract
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2 Types of Epithelia
1. Cover or line all body surfaces, cavities and tubes
- ____________________
2. Epithelium that is primarily involved in secretion is
often arranged into structures called glands.
- _____________________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Surface Epithelia are recognized based on 3
morphological characteristics:
1. Number of cell layers
__________________
_________________
2. Shape of the component cells
_______________
_________________ ________________
3. Presence of surface modifications:
_______________
_________________ ________________
_______________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Modifications on the Apical surface of epithelial cells
1. Microvilli
Fingerlike process that protrude from the cells apical
surface -EM.
_______________ or _____________ in LM (fine vertical
lines on cell surface)
To increase surface area of absorption.
Particularly numerous in the intestinal mucosa.
Core : consist of __________filament

2. Cilia (Kinocila)
Fingerlike extensions
Present in cells specialized for
_____________________________ over the surface of the
epithelium.
Cilia are motile beat sequentially or synchronously in
one direction.
Core : microtubules that comprise the axoneme.
Kartageners syndrome inherited abnormality in cilia,
compromising respiratory functions, with ineffective
clearance of mucus.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3. Stereocilia
Essentially only _______________that are as long as
cilia.
Non-motile
In epith.cells of ductus epididymis and hair cells
of the inner ear.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Classification of Epithelia:
Squamous Epithelium
lining surfaces involved in passive transport (diffusion)
_________ (as in the lungs)
_________ (as in the walls of blood capillaries).
forms the delicate lining of the __________, ____________
and _____________ cavities
allows passage of tissue fluid into and out of
these cavities.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Endothelium: inner lining of blood vessels.
Importance of endothelium:

maintains the fluid nature of flowing blood

triggers _________________ when needed
cell adhesion
transmits inflammatory signals
permit normal arterial dilatation
*Nitric oxidea prizewinning molecule in 1986
Dr. Robert Furchgott of the State University of New
York was awarded a Nobel Prize for Medicine

Identified the factor produced by the

endothelium governing ______________ (endotheliumderived relaxation factor," or EDRF) as Nitric oxide

a signaling molecule for many processes and

the single most powerful artery dilating agent known.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

_________________: Lining of the pleural, pericardial and

peritoneal cavities
- -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Simple Cuboidal
lines _________ ducts and tubules that may have
excretory, secretory or absorptive functions.
Ex. collecting tubules of the kidney and the
small excretory ducts of the salivary glands and
pancreas.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simple Columnar
cells are taller and appear columnar
nuclei are elongated; basal, central, or apical
most often found on _____________ surfaces such as in
the small intestine.

it may constitute the lining of _____________surfaces

such as that of the stomach.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Simple columnar epithelium Modifications:

Non-ciliated type - 1 Layer of rectangular cells, often

containing goblet cells; (+)____________
Organ: GI tract (stomach to anus), ducts of glands and
gallbladder
Fxn: Secretion and Absorption

Ciliated type (+)_______

Organ: parts of upper resp. tract, uterine tubes, uterus,
central canal of spinal cord
Fxn: Moves fluids / particles along passageways
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simple columnar: nonciliated
- for absorption / secretion.
Simple Columnar ciliated
Found mainly in female reproductive tract
Fallopian tube / uterine tube
Ciliary action facilitates transport of the _______________
from the ovary to the uterus.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pseudostratified

A ______________ of simple columnar epithelium.

The appearance in section conveys the

_______________ impression that there is more than one
layer of cells.

All the cells rest on the basement membrane.

Almost exclusively confined to the larger airways of

the respiratory system.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mucociliary escalator
Mucus secreted by goblet cells are converyed on the
surface.
Mucus traps _________________ material

The cilia propel mucus with entrapped particles

towards the pharynx.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stratified Epithelia
epithelia consisting of two or more layers of cells.
function mainly for ______________.
the degree and nature of the stratification are related
to the kinds of physical stresses to which the surface is
exposed
NOTE: A stratified epithelium is classified on the basis of
the shape of the cells in the ______ LAYER ONLY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stratified Squamous _________________________
Example: skin epidermis
Stratified Squamous _________________________
Example : Esophagus
Other examples: ______________________________________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stratified cuboidal
2< layers of cuboid cells
Organs: Ducts of sweat glands, male urethra
Fxn: Protection
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stratified columnar epithelium
Many _____________ cell layers columnar cells in
superficial layer
Organ: Lines part of urethra, excretory ducts of glands,
anal mucous membrane
Fxn: Protection and ________________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Transitional Epithelium
______________ appearance cuboid to squamous
Organs: exclusively in excretory urinary passages
(renal calyces and pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder,
and part of the urethra).

Fxn: Permits ___________________

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Urinary bladder - Highly specialised to accommodate a great
degree of ___________ and to withstand the ___________ of
urine.

Relaxed
vs
Distended
Modifications on the lateral surfaces of epithelial
cells.
Cell Junctions / Intercellular jxns. / Junctional
complexes
bind epithelial cells to adjacent cells
to provide physical strength and mediate exchange of
information and metabolites.
The intimate contact between epitheiial cells ensures that
materials passing through the epithelium have to pass
through the cells, rather than between them.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cell Junctions
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
Tight junction or Occluding junction
occlude to block / hinder
Most apically situated of the
junctional
complexes
a continuous belt-like junction
zonula = latin for belt ; zonula occludens
Proteins in the membrane of adjacent cells called
occludin interact with each other to produce this tight
seal.
to seal the intercellular spaces so that luminal
contents cannot penetrate between the lining cells.
Common in transport epithelia.
Example:

beneath the luminal surface of simple columnar

epithelium
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Adherens jxn./ Zonula adherens
Also called belt desmosome
Located just below tight/occluding jxn.
Forms a band that completely encircles each epith.
cells.
Cell membranes of adjoining cells are very close but
neither adhere nor fuse.
Separated by an intercellular space (15-20 nm
wide)
Particularly present in epithelia with microvilli or cilia

Spot

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Desmosome
Usually situated just below zonula adherens.
They do not form a band around the epithelial cells
(instead) button-like or rivet-like adhesions that are
arranged in a line
At the desmosome jxn, the cells are separated by a
relatively wide intercellular space (about 30 nm)
Particularly numerous in keratinized squamous
epithelium.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gap Junction
Also called communicating junction.
Gap broad areas
Intecellular space is only 3 nm wide
Apposed plasma membranes are perforated by tiny
tubes connexons
Connexon allow exchange of ions and small molecules
bet. adjacent cells
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hemidesmosomes
Modification on the basal surfaces of epithelial cells.

Half of a desmosome!
Helps anchor the epithelial cells to the underlying
basal lamina (basement membrane)

References:
Young B. 2009. WHEATERS FUNCTIONAL HISTOLOGY.
5TH Edition. UK: Churchill Livingstone. Distributor: Phils:
C & E Publishing, Inc.
Gonzales E. 2009. ESTEBAN and GONZALES
TEXTBOOK OF HISTOLOGY. 4TH Edition. PHILS: C & E
Publishing, Inc