ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY

EPITHELIAL TISSUE
- closely aggregated polyhedral cells
-strong adhesion to one another
-attached to a thin layer of ECM
-cellular sheet that line the cavities of organs and cover the body surface
Principal Functions:
Covering, lining, protecting surfaces
Absorption
Secretion
Lamina propria connective tissue that underlies the epithelia, lining the organs
of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems
Papillae small evaginations
Basal pole region of the cell facing a basement membrane and contacting the
connective tissue
Apical pole - opposite end, facing a space or sheets free surface; faces an organs
lumen
Basement membrane - always lies at the interface of epithelial cells and
connective tissue
2 structures of the BM:
Basal lamina thin meshwork of type IV collagen and laminin
produced by epithelial cells
Reticular lamina contains type III collagen and anchoring fibrils of
type VII collagen, secreted by cells of immediately adjacent
connective tissue
Hemidesmosomes bind the basal surface of the epithelial cell to the basal
lamina (integrins)
Intercellular Junctions:

Tight or occluding junctions a seal between adjacent cells; most apical;

prevent paracellular
passage (claudin & occludin)
Paracellular pathway crossing of molecules between cells
Transcellular pathway passing of molecules through cells
Adherent or anchoring junctions sites of string cell adhesion; points of
strong attachment
holding cells together (cadherin
& catenin)
Desmosome or macula adherens binds cell to cell; attached
to Cytoplasmic
keratins (Cadherin
family proteins)
Gap junctions channels of communication between adjacent cells
(connexins & connexons)

Specializations of the Apical Cell Surface

Microvilli present in the lining of small intestines; contains many bundles

of actin filaments; increase epithelial cells apical surface area for absorption
Steroecilia found in the epididymis and proximal part of ductus deferens;
with specialized mechanosensory function in cells of the inner ear and for
absorption
Cilia with a well-organized core of microtubules

TYPES OF EPITHELIA

ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY

1. Covering or Lining
2. Secretory or Granular
COVERING OR LINING EPITHELIA
Accdg to number of cell layers:
Simple epithelia one cell layer
Stratified epithelia two or more cell layers
Accdg to cell shape:
Squamous thin cells; found in lining of vessels, serous lining of cavities;
pericardium,
pleura, peritoneum
Cuboidal cell width and thickness roughly similar; cytoplasm is rich in
mitochondria; covering &
secretion; nucleus greatly occupies cytoplasm; found in covering
the ovary & thyroid
Columnar cells taller than they are wide; Protection, lubrication, absorption
& secretion; found
in lining of intestine & gallbladder
Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium found in epidermis; lacks
nuclei, protection, prevents
water loss; dry
Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium found in mouth,
esophagus, larynx, vagina, anal
canal; Protection, secretion, prevents water
loss; moist
Stratified cuboidal epithelium rare and is only found in excretory ducts of
salivary and sweat glands,
developing ovarian follicles; protection, secretion
Stratified columnar epithelium rare and is only found in conjunctiva lining
the eyelids; protection
Transitional epithelium or urothelium found in bladders, ureters, renal
calyces; protection,
Distensibility
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium found in lining of upper respiratory
tract: lining of
trachea, bronchi, nasal cavity; protection,
secretion
SECRETORY EPITHELIA & GLANDS
Glands specialized organs made of epithelial cells whose major function is to
produce and secrete
various macromolecules; they develop from covering epithelia by means of
cell proliferation
and growth into the underlying connective tissue
2 types of glands:
Exocrine glands retain their connection with the surface epithelium; with
tubular ducts
Endocrine glands lose the connection to their original epithelium; lacks
ducts; adjacent
capillaries absorb their secreted hormone products for
transport
Glands can be:
Simple ducts not branched
Compound ducts with 2 or more branches
Secretory portions can be:

ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY

Tubular short or long and coiled

Acinar rounded and sac-like
Simple Glands
Simple Tubular
Branched Tubular
Coiled Tubular
Acinar (or Alveolar)
Branched Acinar
Compound Glands
Tubular
Acinar
Tubuloacinar
3 Basic Secretory Mechanisms:
Merocrine secretion typical exocytosis of proteins or glycoproteins from
membrane-bound vesicles; most common
Nature of secretory products:
Serous nonglycosylated; stain intensely with basophilic or
acidophilic
Mucous heavily glycosylated; stained by periodic acid-Schif
Holocrine secretion terminally diferentiated cells filled with lipid
products are released; sebaceous glands
Apocrine secretion apical, product-filled areas of cells are extruded;
mammary glands
Goblet cell or mucous cell secretes mucus
Mucous glands exocrine glands producing mucous

CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- support and connect other tissues and maintain the water required for metabolite
difusion to and
from cells
- major constituent is ECM
ECM consists of:
Protein fibers:
Collagen
both formed by proteins of the collagen
family
Reticular fiber
Elastic fiber
- composed mainly of the protein elastin
Ground substance: hydrate nature provides the medium for the
exchange of nutrients and
metabolic wastes between cells and the blood supply
Proteoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans
Multiadhesive glycoproteins help stabilize the ECM
Mesenchyme origin of connective tissues
-developing in the mesoderm, the middle layer of the embryo
-consists of viscous ground substance with few collagen fibers
-undiferentiated, large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, fine chromatin
- spindle-shaped and some are multipotent stem cells
CELLS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Fibroblast originate from mesenchymal cells
Adipocyte
Macrophage

ERIBAL, K.

Mast cell
Plasma cell
Leukocyte

HISTOLOGY
originate from hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Fibroblast most common cell in the connective tissue; targets of many

families of proteins,
growth factors that influence cell growth and diferentiation
-synthesize and secrete collagen and elastin, and the ground
substances
Fibroblast active cell; more abundant and irregularly branched cytoplasm,
large, ovoid,
euchromatic nucleus and prominent nucleolus; more RER and
well-developed Golgi
Fibrocyte inactive cell; smaller and has fewer processes and less RER,
darker and more
heterochromatic nucleus
Adipocyte fat cells; derived form mesenchymal cells; specialized for storage
of lipid and production of heat; cushion and insulate skin and other organs
Macrophage kidney-shaped nucleus; well-developed phagocytic ability; also
called histiocytes
-produce monocytes; they are same cells but at diferent stages of
maturation
MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM
Blood Monocyte; precursor of macrophages
Liver Kupfer cells; same as macrophage
CNS microglial cells; same as macrophage
Skin Langerhans cell; antigen processing and presentation
Lymph nodes, spleen Dendritic cell; antigen processing and
presentation
Bone Osteoclasts; localized digestion of bone matrix
Mast Cell cytoplasm is filled with basophilic secretory granules, nucleus is
centrally situated and
often obscured by abundant SG; they are metachromasia or they
can change the color
of some basic dyes from blue to purple or red
-numerous near blood vessels
-originate from progenitor cells in the bone marrow
Important molecules released by Mast Cells SG:
Heparin sulfated GAG serves as an anticoagulant
Histamine promotes vascular permeability and smooth muscle
contraction
Serine proteases activate various mediators of inflammation
Eosinophil and neutrophil chemotactic factors attract those
leukocytes
Cytokine polypeptides directing activities of leukocytes and other
cells of the
immune system
Phospholipid precursor for lipid mediators of the infalammatory
response
Plasma cell B-lymphocyte-derived, antibody-producing cells; nucleus is
spherical and has
appears as clock-face due to peripheral clumps of
heterochromatin; large, ovoid
cells with basophilic cytoplasm

ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY

Leukocyte wandering cells in the CT; uses diapedesis when leaving the
blood to migrate
between the endothelial cells lining venules to enter CT; this process
increases greatly
during inflammation
Major signs of inflamed tissues:
rubor et tumor cum calore et dolore - redness and swelling
with heat and pain
FIBERS
Collagen extremely strong and resistant to normal shearing and tearing
forces
- key element of all connective tissues; most abundant protein in the
human body; major
product of fibroblast; triple helix
Fibrillar collagens collagen types I,II,III; aggregate to form large
fibrils; Collagen I
most abundant and widely distributed and bundled
together into much larger structures called collagen
fibers
Sheet-forming collagens Collagen type IV; subunits produced by
epithelial cells;
major structural proteins of external laminae
and basal lamina in all epithelia
Linking/anchoring collagens short collagens that link fibrillar
collagens to one
another and to other components of the
ECM; Type VII binds Type IV collagen and
anchors the basal lamina to the underlying
reticular lamina in basement membranes
Procollagen chains made in the cells abundant RER
Procollagen molecule basic subunit from which fibers or sheets are
assembled

Reticular fiber consist mainly of collagen type III; forms an extensive

network of extremely thin
heavily glycosylated fibers; PAS positive; argyrophilic; occur in
the reticular
lamina of the basement membranes, surround the adipocytes,
smooth muscle
and nerve fibers and small blood vessels
Elastic fiber allow tissues to be stretched or distended and return to their
original shape; composed of the proteins elastin & fibrillin

GROUND SUBSTANCE - fills the space between cells and fibers in CT and acts as
both a lubricant and a
barrier to the penetration of invaders
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) also called mucopolysaccharides; arelon
gpolysaccharides consisting of repeating dissacharide units, usually a
uronic acid and a hexosamine
Hyaluronic acid most unique and ubiquitous GAG; synthesized
directly into the ECM
by hyaluronate synthase
4 Major GAGs found in proteoglycans:

ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY

Dermatan sulfate
Chondroitin sulfates
Keratan sulfate
Heparan sulfate
Proteoglycans composed of a core protein to which are covalently
attached various numbers and combinations of the sulfated GAGs;
synthesized on RER, mature in Golgi
Decorin has few GAG side chains and binds fibrils of type I
collagen
Syndecan cell surface proteoglycan; have transmembrane core
proteins vand
serve as additional attachments of the cell to the
ECM
Aggrecan core protein bears many chondroitin sulfate and
keratan sulfate chains; bound via a link protein to polymer of
hyaluronic acid
Multiadhesive glycoproteins have multiple binding sites for cell
surface receptors
(integrins) and for other matrix macromolecules;
has roles in
the adhesion of cells to their substrate
Laminin provides adhesion for epithelial and other cells, wit
binding sites for
integrins, type IV collagen, and specific proteoglycans;
essential for the assembly and maintenance of basal
and external laminae
Fibronectin has binding sites for collagen and certain GAGs; forms
insoluble
fibrillar networks throughout the CT ; its substrate
provides
specific binding site for integrins and important for
cell adhesion
and cellular migration thru the ECM
Integrin act as matrox receptors for specific sequences on laminin,
fibronectin,
some collagens and certain other ECM proteins

TYPES OF CONNEC TIVE TISSUE

CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER
2 General Classes of CT:
1. Loose
Refers to amount of collagen and ground
2. Dense
substance present
Loose CT also called areolar tissue; flexible and not very resistant to stress; much
ground substance, many cells, little collagen, randomly distributed
Dense CT adapted to ofer stress resistance and protection; fewer cells and clear
predominance of
collagen fibers over ground substance; less flexible and far more resistant
to stress
Dense Irregular CT bundles of type I collagen fibers appear
randomly interwoven, with no definite orientation; often found
closely associated with LCT; little GS, few cells (much fibroblasts),
much collagen in randomly arranged fibers
Dense Regular CT type I collagen bundles are arranged
according to a definite pattern with fibers and fibroblasts aligned in

ERIBAL, K.

HISTOLOGY
parallel for resistance to prolonged or repeated stress exerted in the
same direction; found in tendons and ligaments

RETICULAR TISSUE - fibers of type III collagen form a delicate 3D network that
supports various types of cells; delicate network of reticulin/ collagen III with
attached fibroblasts (reticular cells); most abundant in certain lymphoid organs
where the fibers form attachment sites for lymphocytes and other immune cells
MUCOID TISSUE embryonic type of CT found mainly in the umbilical cord and
fetal organs; abundant GS composed of hyaluronic acid; jellylike withy sparse
collagen fibers and scattered fibroblasts; principal component of the umbilical cord;
also referred to as Whartons jelly; best seen around blood vessels in the umbilical
cord