Chapter
4: Epithelial Tissue LAGRAMA | 3B7
Four basic tissue types: Ø Reticular lamina – more diffuse and fibrous;
1. Epithelial contains collagen III reticular fibers
• Cells: Aggregated polyhedral cells Ø Basal lamina include:
• ECM: Small amount a) Type IV collagen – monomers of type IV
• Function: Lining of surface or body cavities; collagen self-assemble into a 2D network of
glandular secretion evenly spaced subunits
2. Connective b) Laminin – large glycoproteins that attach
• Cells: Several types of fixed and wandering to transmembrane proteins called
cells integrins at the cells’ basal surface and
• ECM: Abundant project through the network of type IV
• Function: Support and protection of collagen
tissues/organs c) Nidogen and perlecan – respectively, a
3. Muscular protein and a proteoglycan; both cross-link
• Cells: Elongated contractile cells Laminin to the collagen network; help
• ECM: Moderate amount determine the porosity of the basal lamina
• Function: Strong contraction; body movements and the size of molecules able to filter
4. Nervous through it
• Cells: Elongated cells with extremely fine Ø More diffuse meshwork of the reticular lamina
processes contains type III collagen and is bound to the
• ECM: Very small amount basal lamina by anchoring fibrils of type VII
• Function: Transmission of nerve impulses collagen
Parenchyma Tight or occluding junctions
Ø Composed of the cells responsible for the organ’s Ø Zonulae occludens
specialized functions Ø Form a seal between adjacent cells
Stroma Ø Most apical
Ø The cells of which have a supporting role in the Ø Seal between the two cell membranes is due to
organ tight interactions between the transmembrane
Ø A connective tissue except in the brain and spinal proteins claudin and occludin
cord Adherent or anchoring junction
Ø Zonula adherens
Ø Sites of strong cell adhesion
Characteristic Features of Epithelial Cells
Ø Cell adhesion is mediated by cadherins,
ü Epithelial cells nuclei shapes: elliptic (oval),
transmembrane glycoproteins of each cell that bind
spherical or flattened
each other in the presence of Ca2+
ü Columnar cells’ nuclei: elongated
Ø Cadherins bind catenins that link to actin
ü Squamous cell’s nuclei: flattened
filaments with actin-binding proteins
ü Cuboidal or pyramidal cell’ nuclei: spherical
Ø “Terminal web” – a cytoskeletal feature at the
Lamina propria
apical pole in many epithelial cells; actin filaments
Ø The connective tissue that underlies the epithelia
linked to the adherens junction
lining the organs of the digestive, respiratory and
Desmosome (macula adherens)
urinary systems
Ø Resemble a single “spot-weld” and does not form a
Papillae
belt around the cell
Ø A small evaginations projecting from the connective
Ø Disc-shaped
tissue into the epithelium
Ø Contain large members of the cadherin family
Ø Occur most frequently in epithelial tissues subject
called desmogleins and desmocollins
to friction, such as the covering of the skin or
Ø Plakoglobins – catenin-like proteins which link to
tongue
larger proteins called desmoplakins
Basal Pole
Ø Desmoplakins bind intermediate filament
Ø Region of the cell contacting the ECM and
proteins rather than actins
connective tissue
Gap junctions
Apical Pole
Ø Channels for communication between adjacent cells
Ø Opposite end, usually facing a space
Ø Connexins – transmembrane gap junction
Lateral surfaces
proteins that form hexameric complexes
Ø Regions of cuboidal or columnar cells that adjoin
(connexons)
neighboring cells
Ø Permit intercellular exchange of molecules with
Basement membranes
small (< 1.5nm) diameter
Ø A thin extracellular, felt-like sheet of
Hemidesmosomes
macromolecules where basal surface of all epithelia
Ø Resemble a half-desmosome
rests
Ø Integrins link to cytokeratin intermediate
Ø Semipermeable filter for substances reaching
filaments rather than cadherins
epithelial cells from below
Focal adhesion (focal contact)
Ø Provide structural support for epithelial cells
Ø A basal anchoring junction found in cells that are
Ø Attach epithelia to underlying connective tissue
moving during epithelial repair or reorganization
Ø Basal lamina – dense; 20-100 nm thick
Chapter 4: Epithelial Tissue LAGRAMA | 3B7
Ø Smaller, more numerous
Ø Consist of integrins linked indirectly to bundled c) Columnar
actin filaments, not intermediate filaments • Protection, lubrication,
Ø Integrins are also linked via paxillin to focal absorption, secretion
adhesion kinase, a signaling protein which upon • Lining of intestine, gallbladder
integrin binding to laminin or other specific ECM Ø Stratified epithelia – contain two or more layers
proteins initiates a cascade of intracellular protein a) Squamous keratinized (dry)
phosphorylation affecting cell adhesion, mobility • Protection; prevents water loss
and gene expression • Epidermis
• Have many desmosomes
Specializations of the apical cell surface b) Squamous nonkeratinized (moist)
Microvilli • Protection, secretion; prevents
Ø Found in epithelia specialized for absorption the water loss
apical cell surfaces • Mouth, esophagus, larynx, vagina,
Ø Visible as a brush or striated border in cells such as anal canal
those lining the small intestine c) Cuboidal
Ø Each microvillus contains bundled actin filaments • Protection, secretion
capped and bound to the surrounding plasma
• Sweat glands, developing ovarian
membrane by actin-binding proteins
follicles
Ø The actin filaments insert into the terminal web
• Rare
of cortical microfilaments at the base of the
d) Transitional (urothelium)
microvilli
• Protection, distensibility
Stereocilia
• Bladder, ureters, renal calyces
Ø Less common type of apical process
• Characterized by a superficial
Ø Best seen on the absorptive epithelial cells lining
layer of large, dome-like cells
the male reproductive system
called umbrella cells
Ø Increase the cells’ surface area, facilitating
e) Columnar
absorption
• Protection
Ø Much longer and less motile than microvilli and
• Conjunctiva
may show branching distally
• Rare
Cilia
Ø Pseudostratified – layers of cells with nuclei at
Ø Long, highly motile apical structures, larger than
different levels
microvilli, containing internal arrays of
- Protection, secretion; cilia-
microtubules not microfilaments
mediated transport of
Ø Primary cilium – not motile but is enriched with
particles trapped in mucus
receptors and signal transduction complexes for
out of the air passages
detection of light, odors, motion and flow of liquid
- Lining of trachea, bronchi, nasal
past the cells
cavity
Ø Axoneme – 9 +2 assembly of microtubules
Secretory (glandular) Epithelia
Ø Basal bodies – apical cytoplasmic structures just
Ø May synthesize, store and release proteins, lipids
below the cell membrane; have a structure similar
or complexes of carbohydrates and proteins
to that of centrioles, with triplets of microtubules
Ø Unicellular glands – scattered secretory cells;
and dynamic tubulin protofilaments
common in simple cuboidal, simple columnar and
pseudostratified epithelia
Types of Epithelia
Ø Goblet cells – abundant in the lining of the small
Covering (lining) Epithelia
intestine and respiratory tract; secretes lubricating
Ø Simple epithelia – contain one cell layer
mucus
a) Squamous
Ø Exocrine glands
• Facilitates the movement of
• Remain connected with the surface
viscera (mesothelium), active
epithelium
transport by pinocytosis
• Contain contractile myoepithelial cells
(mesothelium and endothelium),
at the basal ends of the secretory cells
secretion of biologically active
Ø Endocrine glands
molecules (mesothelium)
• Lose the connection to their original
• Ex. Lining of vessels
epithelium and therefore lack ducts
(endothelium); Serous lining
• Lack myoepithelial cells
cavities: pericardium, pleura,
peritoneum (mesothelium) • Specialized for either protein or steroid
b) Cuboidal hormone synthesis
• Covering, secretion Ø Glands can be
• Covering the ovary, thyroid • Simple (ducts not branched)
a) Simple tubular
o Elongated secretory portion
Chapter 4: Epithelial Tissue LAGRAMA | 3B7
o Duct usually short or absent containing one or more lipid droplets; seen in
o Ex. Mucous glands of colon; mammary glands with merocrine secretion
intestinal glands or crypts (of Ø Serous cells
Lieberkuhn) • Synthesize proteins that are mostly not
b) Branched Tubular glycosylated such as digestive enzymes
o Several long secretory parts • Have well-developed RER and Golgi
joining to drain into 1 duct complexes
o Ex. Glands in the uterus and • Filled apically with secretory granules in
stomach different stages of maturation
c) Coiled Tubular • Stain intensely with basophilic or
o Secretory portion is very long acidophilic stains
and coiled Ø Mucous cells
o Ex. Sweat glands • Have RER and Golgi complexes
d) Acinar (or Alveolar) • Filled apically with secretory granules but
o Rounded, saclike secretory these contain heavily glycosylated protein
portion (mucins)
o Ex. Small mucous glands • When mucins are release from the cell,
along the urethra they become hydrated and form a layer of
e) Branched Acinar mucus
o Multiple saclike secretory Ø Seromucous glands – having both serous acini
parts entering the same duct and mucous tubules with clustered serous cells
o Ex. Sebaceous glands of the Transcellular transport
skin Ø Transfer of ions and water in either direction
• Compound (ducts with two or more across the epithelium
branches)
a) Tubular
o Several elongated coiled
secretory units and their
ducts converge to form larger
ducts
o Ex. Submucosal mucous
glands (of Brunner) in the
duodenum
b) Acinar (Alveolar)
o Several saclike secretory
units with small ducts
converge at a larger duct
o Ex. Exocrine pancreas
c) Tubuloacinar
o Ducts of both tubular and
acinar secretory units
converge at larger ducts
o Ex. Salivary glands
Ø Secretory portions can be tubular (either short or
long and coiled) or acinar (rounded and saclike);
either type of secretory unit may be branched, even
if the duct is not branched
Ø Compound glands can have branching ducts and
can have multiple tubular, acinar or tubuloacinar
secretory portions
Ø Three types of secretion:
1. Merocrine secretion – releases products,
usually containing proteins by means of
exocytosis at the apical end of the secretory
cells; most exocrine glands are merocrine
2. Holocrine secretion – cells accumulate
product continuously as they enlarge and
undergo terminal differentiation, culminating
in complete cell disruption which releases the
product and cell debris into the gland’s lumen;
best seen in the sebaceous glands
3. Apocrine secretion – involves loss of
membrane-enclosed apical cytoplasm, usually