Tissue types

Lect. # 4+5
Dr. Essam Qnais

Epithelial tissue
Epithelial tissue is present in two forms 1as sheets of contiguous cells that cover
the body on its external surface and line
the body on its internal surface and 2- as
glands which originate from invaginated
epithelial cells.

Functions of epithelial tissue

1- covering and lining of surfaces e.g. skin
(protection)
2- absorption e.g. intestines or certain
kidney tubules
3- secretion of mucus, hormones, etc
e.g. epithelial cells of glands
4- sensation (neuroepithelium) e.g. taste
buds, retina of the eye.
5- contraction e.g. myoepithelial cells

Origin of epithelial tissues

(derived from any embryonic layer)
1- ectoderm layer
(epithelium that lines the skin, mouth, nose,
mammary gland, and anus)
2- endoderm layer
(epithelium that lines respiratory system,
digestive tract, and the glands of the
digestive tract (liver, pancreas))
3- mesoderm layer
(epithelium that lines the blood vessels)

Epithelial tissues are classified

according to
1- the number of cell layers between the basal
lamina and the free surface

Basal lamina

Several layer
Single layer

Basal lamina

Basement membrane is well stained by the PAS reaction.

Basal laminae and basement

membranes
The basement
membrane seen with
light microscopy is shown
by electron microscopy to
be composed of the
basal lamina, elaborated
by epithelial cells, and
lamina reticularis,
manufactured by cells of
connective tissue

Basement membrane

Basal lamina (seen with EM)

- lamina lucida (IV collagen,
laminin, entactin, integrins and
proteoglycan)
- lamina densa (IV collagen
coated with proteoglycan and
aminoglycoside. Contains also
fibronectin)
- Functions of basal lamina
1- support 2- regulates
exchanges of molecules 3- cell
to cell interaction 4- regulate
cell proliferation and
differentiation.
Lamina reticularis is
manufactured by fibroblasts
and is composed of type I and
III collagen and is responsible
for affixing the lamina densa to
the underlying CT

Basement
membrane
in Kidney

Basement
membrane
in Kidney

 2- the shape (morphology) of the component cells

(the shape of the nuclei)

(flat)
Stratified are
classified by
the
morphology
of the cells in
their superficial
layer only

Types of simple epithelium

1- simple squamous
2- simple cuboidal
3- simple columnar
- ciliated
- non ciliated
4- pseudostratified columnar

Pseudostratified epithelium

Pseudostratified
epithelium

Types of stratified epithelium

1- stratified squamous
- keratinized
- non keratinized
2- stratified cuboidal
3- stratified columnar
4- transitional epithelium

keratinized
stratified squamous

Non-keratinized
stratified
squamous

Keratinized stratified squamous

epithelium
nonkeratinized

Transitional epithelium

Transitional epithelium

Stratified transitional epithelium

Polarity and cell-surface

specializations
Most epithelial cells have apical domain and
basolateral domain.
The apical domain represents the free surface of
the epithelial cells (part of the cell that faces the
lumen) .
The basolateral domain includes the basal and
lateral aspects of the cell membrane.
The apical and the basolateral domains are
separated from each other by tight junctions that
encircle the apical aspect of the cell.

Modifications that are necessary for the

apical domain to carry out its functions.
1- Microvilli : are small finger like
cytoplasmic projections. (EM) (1-2m in
length and 0.08 m in width)
- increase the surface area of the cells.
- they represent the striated border of the
intestinal absorptive cells and brush
border of the kidney proximal tubule cells
observed by LM.
(Microvilli + Glycocalyx = brush border)

Microvilli

Microvilli

Microvilli

Modifications that are necessary for the

apical domain to carry out its functions.
2- Glycocalyx represents carbohydrate residues
attached to the transmembrane proteins of the
plasmalemma (i.e. Glycoproteins). They function
in protection and cell recognition.
3- Steriocilia are long nonmotile microvilli found
only in epididymis and on the sensory hair cells
of the cochlea (inner ear). In epididymis they
function in increasing the surface area and
facilitating the movement of molecules into and
out of the cells; in the hair cells they function in
signal generation.

Modifications that are necessary for the

apical domain to carry out its functions.
4- Cilia are long (7-10m long and 0.2 m in diameter),
motile, hair-like structures emanating from the apical cell
surface; their core is composed of a complex
arrangement of microtubules (9+2) known as the
axoneme.
- the 9+2 microtubules arrangement with the axoneme
continues throughout most of the length of the cilium
except at its base, where it attached to the basal body (9
triplets and no singlets).
- Cilia are specialized to function in propelling mucus and
other substances over the surface of the epithelium.

Cilia

Composition of cilia and flagella

(9+2)

Basal body: structurally similar to a

centriole, anchors the tubules in
the cell

Cilia movement:
-Sliding the microtubules
doublets past each other.
-This action needs ATP

Cilia

Modifications that are necessary for the

apical domain to carry out its functions.
5- Flagella.
Spermatozoa, one
per cell and similar in
structure to cilia.

Flagellum.

Cilia

Lateral membrane specialization

Lateral membrane specializations reveal the
presence of junctional complexes.
Junctional complexes may be classified into 3
types
1- Impermeable junctions: function in joining
cells to form an impermeable barrier, preventing
material from taking an intercellular route in
passing across the epithelial sheath. E.g. tight
junction (Zonulae Occludentes).

Tight junctions
** Tight junction form a belt like
junction that encircles the
entire circumference of the
cell.
Tight junctions function in two
ways
1- prevent the movement of
membrane proteins from the
apical domain to the
basolateral domain
2- fuse plasma membranes of
adjacent cells to prevent water
soluble molecules from
passing between cells in either
direction.

Tight junctions

 2- Anchoring or adhering junctions:

function in maintaining cell-to-cell or cell to
basal lamina adherence. E.g.
desmosomes and hemi desmosomes.
3- Communicating junctions: function in
permitting movement of ions or signaling
molecules between cells, thus coupling
adjacent cells both electrically and
metabolically. E.g. Gap junctions.

Desmosomes

Are weld like junctions along the

lateral cell membranes that help to
resist shearing forces.
Disk shaped attachment plaques
are located opposite each other on
the cytoplasmic aspects of the
plasma membranes of adjacent
epithelial cells.
Each plaque is composed of a
series of attachment proteins
(desmoplakins and pakoglobins)
Intermediate filaments of
cytokeratin are observed to insert
into this plaque.
See figure:
- Desmoglein requires
Ca+2
- Integrins are receptor sites for
the extracelular macromolecules
laminin and collagen type IV

Desmosomes

 Desmosome
Microvilli and cillia and steriocellia
Keretinized