Epithelial tissue is a type of tissue that covers the surfaces of organs, lines body cavities and forms glands. This PDF provides a comprehensive overview of epithelial tissue, including its types, structure, function, and location in the body. The document covers the different types of epithelial cells, their shapes, and layers, as well as their functions in different organs and tissues. The PDF also delves into the unique features of epithelial tissue, such as its polarity, cell junctions, and the basement membrane. Additionally, Whether you are a student, medical professional, or someone interested in learning about the human body, this PDF provides a detailed understanding of epithelial tissue and its importance in the body.

1. EPITHELIAL TISSUES
BY
DR.BUSHRA
M.JARALLAH

2. WE HAVE FOUR MAJOR TYPES OF TISSUES
The majority of organs consistof parenchyma which are the functioning cells of
the organand the stromawhich is the connective tissue
Nervous
Muscular
Connective
tissues
Epithelial

3. TissueType CellType Extracellular Matrix Main Functions
Epithelial
Aggregated or scattered
cells
Minimal amount
Formation of linings and
coverings of organs and
glands, secretion and
absorption
Connective
Various cell types,
including fibroblasts and
immune cells
Abundant amount
Support and protection
of tissues and organs,
transport of nutrients
and waste, immune
defense
Muscle
Elongated contractile
cells
Moderate amount
Body movement,
maintenance of posture,
generation of heat
Nervous Neurons and glial cells Very minimal amount
Transmission of nerve
impulses, integration
and processing of
information

4. EPITHELIAL
TISSUES
• Epithelial tissues :are closely aggregated polyhedral
cells adhering strongly to one another and to a thin
layer of ECM, forming cellular sheets that line the
cavities of organs and cover the body surface.
Epithelia line all external and internal surfaces of the
body and all substances that enter or leave an organ
must cross this type of tissue. Epithelia line the
cavities called mesotheliumand that line the
chambers of the heart ,bloodand lymphatic vessels
called endothelium.

5. THE PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF EPITHELIAL
TISSUES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Covering, lining, and
protecting surfaces
( epidermis)
Absorption (the
intestinal lining)
Secretion
(parenchymal cells
of glands)

6. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF
EPITHELIAL CELLS
• The shapes and dimensions of epithelial cells are quite variable, ranging from tall columnar to
cuboidal to low squamous cells. The cells’ size and morphology are generally dictated by their
function.
• Epithelial cell nuclei vary in shape and may be elliptic (oval), spherical, or flattened, with nuclear
shape corresponding roughly to cell shape.
• Columnar cells generally have elongated nuclei, squamous cells have flattened nuclei, and cuboidal
or pyramidal cells have more spherical nuclei .

7. • It is difficult to see all the layers by the light
microscope (because of the lipid rich membrane) so
these nuclei can be used to know the shape of the cell
and the number of the cell layers . The connective
tissues near the epithelia called the lamina
propria from which the epithelia get it’s blood and
nerve supply .
• Sometimes we see evaginations from the c.t to the
epithelia and extending to the external surface called
papillae , these are most seen in surfaces subjected to
more friction as the tongue.

8. • Epithelial cells also have polarity , they have basal and apical
surfaces .
• Regions of cuboidal or columnar cells that adjoin neighboring
cells comprise the cells’ lateral surfaces; cell membranes here
often have numerous folds which increase the area and
functional capacity of that surface.

9. BASEMENT
MEMBRANE
• The basal surface of all epithelia rests on a thin
extracellular, felt-like sheet of macromolecules referred
to as the basement membrane, a semipermeable filter
for substances reaching epithelial cells from below.
• Glycoproteins and other components in this structure
can often be stained and visualized with the light
microscope .
• With the transmission electron microscope (TEM) two
parts of the basement membrane may be resolved.
• Nearest the epithelial cells is an electron-dense layer,
20-100 nm thick, consisting of a network of fine fibrils
that comprise the basal lamina and beneath this layer
is a . more diffuse and fibrous reticular lamina.

10. BASEMENT MEMBRANE

12. TYPES OF
EPITHELIA
Epithelia can be divided into two main groups:
1. covering (or lining) epithelia
2. secretory(glandular) epithelia.
This is functional division for there are lining
epithelia in which all the cells also secrete (eg, the
lining of the stomach) or in which glandular cells are
distributed among the lining cells (eg, mucous cells in
the small intestine or trachea).

13. COVERING
OR
LINING
EPITHELIA
Cells covering the surfaces or lining the inner
surfaces arrange into one or more cell layers .
Epithelia are classified according to the number of
the layers and the morphology of the cells into :
• Simple epithelia contain only one cell layer
• Stratified epithelia contain two or more layers
Based on cell shape, simple epithelia are
further classified as squamous(thin
cells), cuboidal (cell width and thickness roughly
similar) or columnar (cells taller than they are wide).

14. Simple squamous epithelia :
lining the heart and the blood
vessels and the pleural and
peritoneal cavities, they
function as simple lining or
for exchange of gases, fluids,
nutrients or metabolites.
Simple cuboidal: ducts of
exocrine glands, kidney
tubules and parenchyma of
most glands, they function for
purposes of lining and
secretory functions
(hormones and enzymes).
Simple columnar epithelia:
lining of the GIT and large
excretoryducts of the glands,
they function in secretion of
enzymes and mucus and
absorption of nutrients and
fluids.

15. Most stratified epithelia are classified according to the cell shape of the superficial outer layer(s):
squamous, cuboidal, or columnar.
• Stratified squamous epithelia : epidermis cover the exterior of the body and some of the interior
surfaces of the body cavities , they protect against mechanical trauma and loss of moisture .
• Pseudostratified ciliated epithelia : upper respiratory tract and the roof of the nasal cavity and ear ,
they function as lining and secretion and also in sensory secretion .
• Transitional epithelium : lining of the urinary bladder and ureters , they allow for the distention of
the organs and protection of underlying tissues.

19. • The very thin surface cells of stratified squamous
epithelia can be “keratinized” (packed with keratin
filaments) or “nonkeratinized” (with relatively sparse
keratin). Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium is
found mainly in the epidermis of skin, where it helps
prevent dehydration from the tissue . Its cells form many
layers, with the less differentiated cuboidal cells near the
basement membrane. These cells have many desmosomes
and become more irregular in shape and then flatten as
they accumulate keratin in the process of keratinization
and are moved progressively toward the skin surface,
where they become thin, metabolically inactive packets
(squames) of keratin lacking nuclei.

20. This surface layer of cells helps protect against water loss
across this epithelium.
Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium
lines moist internal cavities (eg, mouth,esophagus,and
vagina) where water loss is not a problem.Here the
flattened cells of the surface layer retain their nuclei and
most metabolic functions.
Stratified cuboidal and stratified columnar
epithelia are both relatively rare.Stratified cuboidal
epithelium occurs in the excretory ducts of salivary and
sweat glands . Stratified columnar epithelium is seen in
the conjunctiva lining the eyelids,where it is both
protective and mucus secreting.

21. • Unique transitional epithelium or urothelium lines
much of the urinary tract, extending from the kidneys to
the proximal part of the urethra, and is characterized by a
superficial layer of large, dome-like cells sometimes called
umbrella cells , these cells are specialized to protect
underlying tissues from the hypertonic and potentially
cytotoxic effects of urine. Importantly, unique
morphological features of the cells allow distension of
transitional epithelium as the urinary bladder fills.

22. • A final morphological type of epithelium is called
pseudostratified columnar epithelium , here tall irregular
cells all are attached to the basement membrane , but ,
their nuclei are at different levels and not all the cells
reaching the free surface , giving the stratified appearance .
A good example is the lining of upper respiratory tract ,
the cells also here are heavy ciliated .

23. Major Feature Cell Form
Examples of
Distribution Main Function
Simple (one layer of cells) Squamous
Lining of vessels
(endothelium);
covering the ovary,
thyroid
Facilitates the movement of the viscera (mesothelium), active transport by pinocytosis (mesothelium and endothelium), secretion of
biologically active molecules (mesothelium)
Cuboidal
Covering the ovary,
thyroid
Covering, secretion
Columnar
Lining of intestine,
gallbladder
Protection, lubrication, absorption, secretion
Stratified (two or more layers of
cells)
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 Coniunctiva Protection
Pseudostratified (layers of cells
with nuclei at different levels; not
all cells reach surface but all
adhere to basal lamina)
Columnar
Lining of trachea,
bronchi, nasal cavity
Protection, secretion; cilia-mediated transport of particles trapped in mucus out of the air passages

25. INTERCELLULAR ADHESION & OTHER JUNCTIONS
• Epithelial cells adhere strongly to neighboring cells and basal laminae, particularly in epithelia
subject to friction or other mechanical forces.
• Tight or occluding junctions form a seal between adjacent cells. also called zonulae occludens, are
the most apical of the junctions. The term “zonula” indicates that the junction forms a band
completely encircling each cell.
• Adherent or anchoring junctions are sites of strong cell adhesion. or zonula adherens , which also
encircles the epithelial cell, usually immediately below the tight junction.

26. • Gap junctions are channels for communication between adjacent cells. mediate inter- cellular
communication rather than adhesion or occlusion between cells. Abundant in many epithelia, gap
junctions are also functionally important in nearly all mammalian tissues.
• Desmosomes : or macula adherens . As the name implies this junction resembles a single “spot-
weld” and does not form a belt around the cell. Desmosomes are disc-shaped structures at the
surface of one cell that are matched with identical structures at an adjacent cell surface
• Hemidesmosomes , which can be seen by TEM . These adhesive structures resemble a half-
desmosome ultra structurally, they found on the basal surface of the cell , attaching the cells to the
basal lamina .

28. SPECIALIZATIONS OF THE APICAL CELL
SURFACE
• Microvilli : cytoplasmic projections , actin filaments binding to the plasma membrane by a protein,
increase the surface area , The average microvillus is about 1-μm long and 0.1-μm wide.
• Stereocilia : found in the lining of the male reproductive tract , also have microfilaments connected
to actin , but are longer than the microvilli and less mobile , and show branching distally .
• Cilia : are long, highly motile apical structures, larger than microvilli, containing internal arrays of
microtubules not microfilaments . In addition to cilia on epithelial cells, most (if not all) other cell
types have at least one short projection called a primary cilium, which is not motile but is enriched
with receptors and signal transduction complexes for detection of light, odors, motion, and flow of
liquid past the cells. They are abundant on columnar and cuboidal cells, Typical cilia are 5-10 μm
long and 0.2 μm in diameter, which is much longer and two times wider than a typical microvilli .

30. • Regeneration of epithelial cells :
• Epithelial tissues are relatively labile structures whose
cells are renewed continuously by mitotic activity and
stem cell populations. The rate of renewal varies
widely; it can be fast in tis- sues such as the intestinal
epithelium, which is replaced every week, or slow, as in
the large glands. In stratified epithelial tis- sues, stem
cells and mitosis occur only within the basal layer in
contact with the basal lamina. In some functionally
complex epithelia, stem cells are located only in
restricted niches some distance from the transit
amplifying cells and differentiating cells

31. • For example, the epithelium lining the small intestine
is derived completely from stem cells found in the simple
glands between the intestinal villi. In the epidermis, many
stem cells are located at a characteristic position along the
wall of hair follicles.
• Epithelia are normally capable of rapid repair and
replacement of apoptotic or damaged cells. In some large
glands, most notably the liver, mitotic activity is normally
rare but is actively renewed following major damage to the
organ. When a portion of liver tissue is removed surgically
or lost by the acute effects of toxic substances, cells of
undamaged regions quickly begin active proliferation and
a mass of liver tissue with normal function is regenerated.

32. • Metaplasia
Under certain abnormal conditions, one type of epithelial
tissue may undergo transformation into another type in
another reversible process called metaplasia. In heavy
cigarette smokers, the ciliated pseudostratified epithelium
lining the bronchi can be transformed into stratified
squamous epithelium.
• Neoplasia
Some epithelial cells are prone to abnormal growth or
dysplasia, which can progress to precancerous growth
called neoplasia. Early neoplastic growth is often
reversible and does not always result in cancer. Neoplasia
of epithelial cells called carcinoma .

33. BODY SURFACES
The externalsurface of the body is
covered with a continuous layer of skin of
variable thickness and color .The
epidermis,the outermost layer of skin,
providesa waterproof barrier and creates
our skin tone.
The dermis,beneath the epidermis,contains
tough connective tissue, hair follicles,and
sweat glands.
The deeper subcutaneoustissue
(hypodermis)is made of fat and connective
tissue.This is the same structure in different
parts of the skin . However the thickness of
the skin differ resulting into thin and thick
skin .

35. MUCUS
MEMBRANES
1- mucosa : consist of epithelia ,
lamina properia ,and muscularis mucosa
2- submucosa : which is the connective
tissues
3- muscularis externa : consist of
smooth muscles arranged in cicular and
longitudinal layers
4- serosa or adventitia
Typical mucus membrane consist of four layers:

39. THANK YOU