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Tissues
Groups of cells similar in structure and function
Types of tissues
Epithelial
Connective
Muscle
Nerve
Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium)
Two main types (by location):
Covering and lining epithelia
On external and internal surfaces
o Glandular epithelia
o Secretory tissue in glands
Characteristics of Epithelial Tissue
Cells have polarity—apical (upper, free) and basal
(lower, attached) surfaces
Apical surfaces may bear microvilli (e.g., brush
border of intestinal lining) or cilia (e.g., lining
of trachea)
Noncellular basal lamina of
glycoprotein and collagen lies adjacent
to basal surface
o Are composed of closely packed
cells
o Continuous sheets held together
by tight junctions and
desmosomes
Supported by a connective tissue
reticular lamina (under the basal
lamina)
o Avascular but innervated
o High rate of regeneration
Classification of Epithelia
Ask two questions:
How many layers?
o 1 = simple epithelium
o >1 = stratified epithelium
What type of cell?
Squamous
Cuboidal
Columnar
(If stratified, name according to apical layer
of cells)
Simple epithelia are mostly concerned with
absorption, secretion, and filtration
Simple squamous epithelium is a single layer of
fish scale–shaped cells.
Two other locations
Endothelium
o The lining of lymphatic vessels, blood
vessels, and heart
Mesothelium
o The epithelium of serous membranes in
the ventral body cavity
Simple cuboidal epithelium is a single layer of
cube‐shaped cells forming the smallest ducts of
glands and many kidney tubules.
Simple columnar epithelium is a single layer of
column‐shaped cells that line the digestive
tract.
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium contains
cells of varying heights giving the false
impression of the presence of many layers.
Stratified epithelia’s main function is protection.
Stratified squamous epithelium is composed of
several layers with the cells on the free surface
being squamous shaped and the underlying cells
being cuboidal or columnar in shape.
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium
Quite rare in body
Found in some sweat and mammary glands
Typically two cell layers thick
Transitional epithelium forms the lining of the
hollow organs of the urinary system that
stretches as they fill.
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 (e.g., goblet cells) or multicellular
Endocrine Glands
Ductless glands
Secrete hormones that travel through lymph or
blood to target organs
Exocrine Glands
More numerous than endocrine glands
Secrete products into ducts
Secretions released onto body surfaces (skin) or
into body cavities
Examples include mucous, sweat, oil, and salivary
glands
Unicellular Exocrine Glands
The only important unicellular gland is the goblet
cell
Multicellular Exocrine Glands
Multicellular exocrine glands are composed of a duct and a secretory unit
Classified according to:
Duct type
o Simple
o Compound
Structure of their secretory units
o Tubular
o Alveolar
o Tubuloalveolar
Modes of Secretion
Merocrine
Products are secreted by exocytosis
Pancreas, sweat and salivary glands
Apocrine Gland
Apical portion of cell pinched off
Axillary (arpit) and genital regions
Holocrine
Products are secreted by rupture of gland cells
Sebaceous glands
Connective Tissue
Most abundant and widely distributed tissue type
Four classes
Connective tissue proper
Cartilage
Bone tissue
Blood
Structural Elements of Connective Tissue
Ground substance
Medium through which solutes diffuse
between blood capillaries and cells
Components:
o Interstitial fluid
o Adhesion proteins (“glue”)
o Proteoglycans
Protein core + large polysaccharides
(chrondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic
acid)
Trap water in varying amounts,
affecting the viscosity of the ground
substance
Collagen (white fibers)
Strongest and most abundant type
Provides high tensile strength
Elastic
Networks of long, thin, elastin fibers that allow for stretch
Reticular
Short, fine, highly branched collagenous fibers
Cells
Mature cells = “cytes”
Cells that create new tissue = “blasts”
o Fibroblasts in connective tissue proper
o Chondroblasts and chondrocytes in cartilage
o Osteoblasts and osteocytes in bone
Cells that break down tissue = “clasts”
o Osteoclasts in bone
Connective Tissue Proper
Types:
Loose connective tissue
o Areolar
o Adipose
o Reticular
Dense connective tissue
o Dense regular
o Dense irregular
o Elastic
Areolar connective tissue serves to bind body
parts together while allowing them to move
freely over one another, wraps small blood
vessels and nerves, surrounds glands, and
forms the subcutaneous tissue.
Adipose (fat) tissue is a richly vascularized
tissue that functions in nutrient storage,
protection, and insulation.
Reticular connective tissue forms the internal
framework of the lymph nodes, the spleen,
and the bone marrow.
Dense regular connective tissue contains
closely packed bundles of collagen fibers
running in the same direction and makes up
tendons and ligaments.
Dense irregular connective tissue contains thick
bundles of collagen fibers arranged in an irregular
fashion, and is found in the dermis.
Connective Tissue: Cartilage
Three types of cartilage:
Hyaline cartilage
Elastic cartilage
Fibrocartilage
Hyaline cartilage is the most abundant cartilage,
providing firm support with some pliability.
Elastic cartilage is found where strength and
exceptional stretchability are needed, such as the
external ear. (Not shown)
Fibrocartilage is found where strong support and
the ability to withstand heavy pressure are
required, such as the intervertebral discs.
Other Types of Connective Tissue
Bone
Blood