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• Glands:
– structures that produce secretions
Characteristics of Epithelia
1. Cellularity: composed of cells bound by
cell junctions
2. Polarity: apical and basal surfaces
3. Attachment: via basal lamina to
underlying connective tissue
4. Avascularity: no blood vessels (but richly
innervated)
5. Regeneration: germinative cell division
Free Surface and
Attached Surface\
• Polarity:
– apical and basolateral surfaces
Repairing and
Replacing Epithelia
• Epithelia are replaced by division of
germinative cells (stem cells)
• Near basal lamina
Functions of Epithelial Tissue
Basal surface
Stratified
Classification based on number of cell layers.
Classification of Epithelia
Squamous
• Squamous,
Cuboidal cuboidal, or
columnar
Columnar
Classification based on cell shape.
Simple Squamous Epithelia
Air sacs of
Function: Allows passage of lung tissue
materials by diffusion and filtration
in sites where protection is not Nuclei of
important; secretes lubricating squamous
substances in serosae. epithelial
cells
Location: Kidney glomeruli; air sacs
of lungs; lining of heart, blood
vessels, and lymphatic vessels; lining
of ventral body cavity (serosae).
Simple
cuboidal
epithelial
cells
Function: Secretion and
absorption.
Basement
Location: Kidney tubules; membrane
ducts and secretory portions
of small glands; ovary surface.
Connective
tissue
Simple
columnar
epithelial
Function: Absorption; secretion of cell
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 Basement
of the uterus. membrane
Pseudo-
stratified
Function: Secretion, particularly of epithelial
mucus; propulsion of mucus by layer
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
Trachea Photomicrograph: Pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium lining the human trachea (570x).
Figure 4.2d
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
• Trachea
Epithelia: Stratified Squamous
• Thick membrane composed of several
layers of cells (the only one with more than
2 or 3 true layers)
• Functions in protection of underlying areas
subjected to abrasion
• Forms the external part of the skin’s
epidermis (keratinized cells), and linings of
the esophagus, mouth, and vagina
(nonkeratinized cells)
Epithelia: Stratified Squamous
(e) Stratified squamous epithelium
Stratified
squamous
epithelium
Transitional
epithelium
Function: Stretches readily and
permits distension of urinary organ
by contained urine.
Location: Lines the ureters, urinary Basement
bladder, and part of the urethra. 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.
Epithelia: Transitional
• Urinary bladder
Glandular Epithelia
• Endocrine and exocrine
glands
Epithelia: Glandular
• 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 or multicellular
Glandular Epithelium: Endocrine Glands
– Secretions, called hormones, diffuse directly into the
bloodstream
– Function in maintaining homeostasis
Glandular Epithelium: Exocrine Glands
– Secrete products into ducts that empty onto the surfaces of
epithelium
– Skin surface or lumen of a hollow organ
– Secretions of the exocrine gland include mucus, sweat, oil,
earwax, saliva, and digestive enzymes
Structural Classification of Exocrine Glands
Simple Squamous
• Multilayered
– surface cells varying in shape
• round to flat (if stretched)
– lines hollow organs that expand from within (urinary
bladder)