Tissue

Tissues and tissue types

• Tissues are:
Collections of specialized cells and cell
products organized to perform a limited
number of functions

• Histology = study of tissues

The four tissue types are:

Epithelial
Connective
Muscular
Nervous
• Four types of tissue

– Epithelial = covering
– Connective = support
– Muscle = movement
– Nervous = control

• Most organs contain all 4 types

 Epithelial tissue

Epithelial tissue covers the whole surface of the body.

It is made up of cells closely packed and ranged in one

or more layers.

This tissue is specialised to form the covering or lining of

all internal and external body surfaces.

Epithelial tissue that occurs on surfaces on the interior of

the body is known as endothelium.
Epithelial cells are packed tightly together, with
almost no intercellular spaces and only a
small amount of intercellular substance.

Epithelial tissue, regardless of the type, is

usually separated from the underlying tissue by
a thin sheet of connective tissue; basement
membrane.

The basement membrane provides structural

support for the epithelium and also binds it to
neighbouring structures.
 EPITHELIAL TISSUES
• Sheets of cells
• Specialized contacts/cell junctions
• Basal lamina: protein scaffolding secreted by
epithelial cells
• Basement membrane: reticular fibers (crossed
collagen network) that supports epithelium--really
associated connective tissue
• Connective tissue support
• Nutrients from capillaries in underlying connective
tissue
• Nerves pass through
• Easily regenerates
• E.g. skin, lining of gut, mucous membranes
Classes of Epithelia

Membranous

Glandular
 Classes of Epithelia
• Simple: just one • Stratified:
layer or cell multiple layers
shape and cell shapes
 Simple Epithelia
Type Cell shape Example
Squamous Squashed Endotheliu m (lin es blood
vessels), mesothelium
(serous lining of celom)
Cuboidal Cubed Walls of glands

Columnar Columns Linin g of gut tube;

sometimes with cilia lik e
lining of uterine tube
Pseudo-stratified Flat cells give rise With cilia in respiratory
to columns tubes to move
mucous/particles out of
lungs
Squamous epithelium.
Squamous cells have the appearance of thin, flat plates.

The shape of the nucleus usually corresponds to the cell form and help to
identify the type of epithelium.

Squamous cells, for example, tend to have horizontall flattened, elliptical

nuclei because of the thin flattened form of the cell.

They form the lining of cavities such as the mouth, blood vessels, heart and
lungs and make up the outer layers of the skin.

Simple sqaumous epithelium

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium.

As their name implies, cuboidal cells are roughly square or cuboidal in shape.

Each cell has a spherical nucleus in the centre.

Cuboidal epithelium is found in glands and in the lining of the kidney tubules as
well as in the ducts of the glands.

They also constitute the germinal epithelium which produces the egg cells in
the female ovary and the sperm cells in the male testes.

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Simple Columnar Epithelium

The cells are elongated and column-shaped.

The nuclei are elongated and are usually located near the base of the cells.
Columnar epithelium forms the lining of the stomach and intestines.

Some columnar cells are specialised for sensory reception such as in the
nose, ears and the taste buds of the tongue.

Simple columnar epithelium

Ciliated Columnar Epithelium

These are simple columnar epithelial cells, but in addition, they posses fine
hair-like outgrowths, cilia on their free surfaces.

These cilia are capable of rapid, rhythmic, wavelike beatings in a certain

direction.

This movement of the cilia in a certain direction causes the mucus, which is
secreted by the goblet cells, to move (flow or stream) in that direction.

Ciliated epithelium is usually found in the air passages like the nose. It is also
found in the uterus and Fallopian tubes of females.

The movement of the cilia propel the ovum to the uterus.

Ciliated columnar epithelium

Stratified Epithelium.

Where body linings have to withstand wear and tear, the epithelia are composed
of several layers of cells and are then called compound or stratified
epithelium.

The top cells are flat and scaly and it may or may not be keratinised (i.e.
containing a tough, resistant protein called keratin).

The mammalian skin is an example of dry, keratinised, stratified epithelium.

The lining of the mouth cavity is an example of an unkeratinisied, stratified

epithelium.

Stratified epithelium
 Stratified Epithelia
• Squamous • Transitional
– E.g. epidermis epithelium
– E.g. urinary
structures--bladder
– Stretches from 6
cells to 3 cells thick
as bladder fills and
expands
Transitional Epithelium

Transitional epithelium is similar to nonkeratinized stratified squamous

epithelium except that the surface cells of the former are large and round
rather than flat, and some may have two nuclei

Transitional epithelium is found only in the urinary system, particularly

lining the cavity of the urinary bladder and lining the lumina of the
ureters.

This tissue is specialized to permit distension (stretching) of the urinary

bladder as it fills with urine.

The inner, exposed cells actually transform from being rounded when the
urinary bladder is empty to being somewhat flattened as it distends with
urine.
 Quiz!! E

Can You Identify the

Classes of Epithelium?
D

A B
C
1. Unicellular glands

single-celled glands, such as goblet cells.

They are modified columnar cells that occur within most epithelial tissues.
Goblet cells are found in the epithelial linings of the respiratory and
digestive systems.

The mucus secretion of these cells lubricates and protects the surface
linings.
Multicellular glands,

as their name implies, are composed of both secretory

cells and cells that form the walls of the ducts.

Multicellular glands are classified as simple or compound

glands.

The ducts of the simple glands do not branch, whereas

those of the compound type do.
 Cell Junctions
• Desmosome: binding spots between
cells with proteins called cadherins
• Tight junctions: impermeable
– E.g. gut tube, doesn’t let enzymes from gut
into blood stream
• Gap junctions: tubes that let small
molecules pass between cells
 Features of Apical Surface of
Epithelium
 Microvilli: (ex) in small intestine
 Finger-like extensions of the plasma membrane
of apical epithelial cell
 Increase surface area for absorption
 Cilia: (ex) respiratory tubes
 Whip-like, motile extensions
 Moves mucus, etc. over epithelial surface 1-way
 Flagella: (ex) spermatoza

 Extra long cilia

 Moves cell
 Features of Lateral Surface of
Epithelium
• Cells are connected to neighboring cells via:
– Proteins-link cells together, interdigitate
– Contour of cells-wavy contour fits together
– Cell Junctions
• Desmosomes-adhesive spots on lateral sides
• Tight Junctions-at apical area, plasma membrane of
adjacent cells fuse, nothing passes
• Gap junction-spot-like junction occurring anywhere, lets
small molecules pass
 Features of the Basal Surface
of Epithelium

• Basal lamina: supportive sheet between

epithelium and underlying connective tissue
– Selective filter
• Basement membrane = basal lamina plus
underlying reticular fiber layer
– Attaches epithelium to connective tissue below
• Sometimes the two are used interchangeably
Name that Epithelial Feature!
(name and location on cell)
3
• Cilia 3
1 • Tight junction 1
2
• Microvilli 2
• Basement
4
membrane

4
 CONNECTIVE TISSUES
• Universal in body
• Underlies epithelium, supports
capillaries.
• Always originates from mesenchyme
• CELLS in MATRIX
Connective tissue is the most abundant tissue in the
body.

It supports other tissues or binds them together and

provides for the metabolic needs of all body organs.

Certain types of connective tissue store nutritional

substances; other types manufacture protective
and regulatory materials.
Although connective tissue varies widely in structure and
function, all types of connective tissue have similarities.

With the exception of mature cartilage, connective tissue

is highly vascular and well nourished.

It is able to replicate and, by so doing, is responsible for

the repair of body organs.

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of tightly fitted

cells, connective tissue contains considerably more
matrix (intercellular material) than cells.

Connective tissue does not occur on free surfaces of

body cavities or on the surface of the body, as does
epithelial tissue.
The classification of connective tissue is not exact, and several schemes have been
devised.
In general, however, the various types are named according to the kind and
arrangement of the matrix.

The following are the basic kinds of connective Tissues: