Epithelium from greek word epi = upon; thele = nipple

Principal function of epithelial tissues

- Covering, lining all external and internal surfaces
of the body hence substances that enter the
tissues and organs must cross an epithelium
and protecting surfaces example (eg. epidermis)
- Absorption (eg. intestinal lining)
- Secretion (eg. parenchymal cells of glands)
- filtration
- Specific cells may be contractile (myoepithelial
cells)
- Specialized sensory cells (those of taste bud or
the olfactory epithelium)
- Found in different areas
a. Body coverings
b. Body linings
c. Glandular tissue
Characteristic features of epithelial cells
- Cells fit closely together
- Tissue layer always has one free surface
- The lower surface is bound by a basement
membrane
- Avascular (have no blood supply) rely on the
connective tissue that contains the
microvascular nutrients and O2 that epithelial
tissue rest.
- Lamina propria the underlying connective
tissue found in the epithelial lining of the organs
in the digestive, respiratory and urinary systems
- Regenerate easily if well nourished
- Papillae irregularities at interface in the form of
small evaginations that increase the area of
contact between the epithelium and connective
tissue *occur most frequently in epithelial
tissues subject to friction, such as covering of
the skin or tongue
- Epithelial cells generally show polarity with
organelles and membrane proteins distributed
unevenly within the cell.
Regions of the Epithelium
a. Basal pole the region of the cell in contact with
the connective tissue
b. Apical pole region facing a space
Lateral surface region of cuboidal and columnar cells
that adjoin the neighboring cells * cell membrane have
numerous infoldings to increase the area of that surface
increasing its functional capacity.
*the two poles differ in both structure and function
Basement membranes
o sheet of extracellular material on the
basal surfaces of epithelial cells
o provide structural support
o polarity to epithelial cells
o attach epithelial to underlying
connective tissue
- Basal lamina are fine fibrils
Macromolecules of the basal lamina
a. Laminin large glycoproteins that self
assemble like a laselike network immediately
below the cells basal poles where they are held
in place by the transmembrane integrin.
b. Type IV collagen monomers of type IV
collagen contain three polypeptide chains and
self- assemble further to form a feltlike layer
c. Entactin/nidogen/perlecan (proteoglycan)
held the laminin and type IV collagen together
*the components of the basal lamina are also produced
by other cells beside those of epithelia, including muscle
cells, adipocytes (fat storing cells), and the cells
supporting peripheral neurons.
*surrounding the cells, external lamina binds factors
important for interactions with other cells and serve as
semipermeable barriers further regulating
macromolecular exchanges between enclosed cells and
connective tissue.
*Proteins help filter substance entering the
epithelium from below, concentrate mitogenic
growth factors, and form a scaffold for epithelial
repair and regeneration. Also mediate many cell to cell
interaction involving epithelia and mark routes for cell
migrations along epithelia.
*basal lamina components help organize proteins in the
plasma membrane of epithelial cells, affecting
endocytosis, signal transduction and other activities.
Type III collagen content of the more diffuse meshwork
of reticular laminae and is bound by the anchoring
fibrils of type VII collagen.
- Reticular lamina Diffuse and fibrous
Shape Nuclei
Elliptic
Spherical
Flattened -

TYPES OF EPITHELIA
1. Covering epithelia
a. Classification according to layers
a.1 Simple epithelia contain one cell
layer
a.2 Stratified epithelia contain two or
more layer
a.3 pseudostratified layers of cells with
nuclei at different levels; not all cells reach
surface but all adhere to basal lamina
b. Classification according to the cell shape
b.1 Squamous thin cells
b.2 Cuboidal cell width and thickness
roughly similar
b.3 Columnar cells taller than wide
Major
Feature
Cell Form Examples of
Distribution
Main
Function
Simple Squamous Lining of vessels
Endothelium;
serous lining of
cavities ex.
Pericardium,
pleura,
peritoneum
(mesothelium)
Facilitates
the
movement of
the viscera
(meso),
active
transport by
pinocytosis
(meso and
endo),
secretion of
biologically
active
molecules
(meso)
Cuboidal Covering of the
ovary, thyroid,
renal collecting
tubule
Covering,
secretion
Columnar Lining of
intestine, gall
bladder, renal
collecting duct,
oviduct lining
(ciliated cells)
Protection,
lubrication,
absorption
and secretion
Pseudo-
stratified
Lining of the
trachea, bronchi,
nasal cavity
Protection,
secretion,
cilia-
mediated
transport of
particles
trapped in
mucus out of
the air
passages
Stratified Squamous
keratinized (dry)
Epidermis Protection,
prevents
water loss
Squamous
nonkeratinized
(moist)
Mouth,
esophagus,
larynx, vagina,
anal canal
Protection,
secretion,
prevents
water loss
Cuboidal Sweat glands.
Developing,
ovarian follicles
Protection,
secretion
Transitional Bladder, ureters,
renal calyces
Protection,
distensibility
Columnar Conjunctiva Protection


Simple Squamous Epithelium
- Regulate passage of substance into the
underlying tissue
- Cell nuclei are the thickest and most visible
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
- Greater thickness allows the cytoplasm to be
rich in mitochondria and other organelles for a
high level of active transport across the
epithelium and other functions.

Simple columnar epithelium
- With apical cilia or microvilli (often specialized
for absorption)
- Terminal bars complexes of tight and adherent
junctions are present at the apical ends of the
cell
Stratified Squamous
- Keratinized
Eventually lose their nuclei and
organelles
Form superficial layers flattened
squames that prevent water loss.
- Non keratinized
Epithtelia occur in the esophageal lining, outer
covering of the cornea
- Much less keratin and retain their nuclei but still
provide protection against organism
Transitional Epithelium or Urothelium
- Superficial cells are rounded and domeshaped,
and have specialized membrane features
enabling them to withstand hypertonin effects of
urine and protect underlying cells from this toxic
solution.
- Cells are able to their relationship with one
another and undergo a transition in their
appearance as the urinary bladder fills and the
wall is distended.
Pseudostratified Epithelia
- Appear to be in several layer but their basal
ends all rest on the basement membrane
- Some have cilia
- Found in the upper respiratory tract