GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM

Epithelium specialized to synthesise and

secrete substances.
Control of secretion is mediated by the
nervous and endocrine systems
 Glandular Epithelium
• Gland:
– a single cell or a mass of epithelial cells adapted for
secretion
– derived from epithelial cells that sank below the surface
during development
• Exocrine glands
– Remain connected to the surface by tubular ducts lined with
epithelial cells
– glands secrete---sweat, ear wax, saliva, digestive enzymes
onto free surface of epithelial layer
– unicellular glands or multicellular glands
• Endocrine glands
– Lose connection with surface epithelium and are ductless
– secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Mixed glands- are both endocrine and exocrine e.g pancreas
and liver
CLASSIFICATION OF EXOCRINE GLANDS
• According to number of cells; unicellular or
multicellular
• Multicellular glands are further classified
according to types of ducts- simple or
compound.
• According to mode of secretion- merocrine
(eccrine), apocrine and holocrine
• According to type of secretory product-
mucus, serous, watery, cellular.
Intestinal crypts of Lieberkuhn
with goblet cells
 TYPE OF DUCT SYSTEM

• Simple glands have ducts with few branches

• Compound glands have ducts with many branches, are
surrounded by a connective tissue(CT) capsule, are supported
by CT septa and have their own nerve and blood supply.
• The secretory units plus the ducts form the parenchyma of
the gland while the CT capsule and septa form the stroma
• Glands are further classified according to cellular organisation
of the secretory portion ; tubular, acinar, alveolar, saccular.
• Simple glands can be , tubular, coiled tubular, branched
tubular and simple acinar
• Compound glands can be tubular, acinar, alveolar, saccular,
tubuloacinar or tubuloalveolar
Simple tubular glands- stomach
Simple coiled – sweat gland
Simple acinar- sebaceous gland
Compound tubuloacinar- parotid
gland
 Mucous Secretory Gland
Esophagus- compound tubuloacin
 Myoepithelial cells
• Myoepithelial cells are stellate/spindle shaped
specialized squamous epithelial cells that can
contract.
• Surround glandular acini and ducts of many
glands.
• Are located between the basal pole of secretory
cells and basal lamina.
• Contain actin, myosin, keratin.
• Their contraction expels secretions out of the
gland
 Mechanisms for Glandular Secretion

Merocrine Glands:
Secretion is by exocytosis from secretory vesicles
• Salivary glands
• Eccrine sweat glands of the skin
Apocrine Glands:
Apical part of cell is lost together with secretion
• Lactiferous tissue of the Mammary glands
• Apocrine sweat glands of axilla
Holocrine Glands:
Whole cell is lost together with secretory product
• Sebaceous (oil) glands
of the skin
 Secretory Products
1) Serous glands - thin, watery fluid containing
proteins(enzymes) e.g parotid gland, pancreatic acinar.
Secretory cells are typical protein-synthesizing cells.
2) Mucous glands -a thick, viscous secretion rich in
glycoproteins e.g sublingual gland, digestive, respiratory
and genital tract glands.
3) mixed serous +mucous glands – secretory units are
called serous demilunes e.g glands of respiratory tract
and oral cavity, submandibular gland.
4) lipid rich secretions of sebaceous glands of the skin.
5) Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids- eg mammary gland
6) Others; waxy (ceruminous ), cellular( testis),
watery(tear glands) etc
Serous gland- parotid gland
Mucous gland- sublingual gland
Mixed serous and mucus gland-
submandibular
Lipid secreting gland- sebaceous
Mammary gland
 CLASSIFICATION OF ENDOCRINE
GLANDS
• Can be unicellular or multicellular
• Multicellular endocrine glands consist of
cords/clusters of cells surrounding blood sinusoids or
follicles surrounded by blood capillaries.
• Follicular endocrine glands synthesise and store
product in follicles for later release e.g thyroid gland
• Endocrine glands composed of cell cords/clusters
synthesise and secrete their products directly into the
blood upon stimulation e.g pancreatic islets, adrenal
glands
• Hormones can be steroid hormones or protein
hormones
Adrenal gland
Follicular endocrine - thyroid
gland

Duct
Thyroid gland
 Diffuse Neuroendocrine System
(DNES)
• Are specialized unicellular glandular cells with
neuroendocrine function
• Derived from neural crest
• About 35 types of cells located among epithelial
cells lining the respiratory , urinary,
gastrointestinal tracts, pituitary, thyroid glands.
• Paracrine (with local effect) secretion of
norepinephrine or serotonin and hormones e.g
cholecystokinin, gastrin, motilin.
• Cells formerly known as APUD ( Amine Precursor Uptake
Decarboxylation)- cells/agentaffin/chromaffin cells
THE END