HISTOPATHOLOGY I

Lecture 12
Epithelium Tissue Part II

Stratified Epithelia
Stratified epithelia are defined as epithelia
consisting of 2 or more layers of cells
They mainly have a protective function
The degree and nature of the stratification are
related to the kinds of physical stresses to
which the surface is exposed
In general, stratified epithelia are poorly
suited for absorption and secretion by virtue
of their thickness

Stratified Epithelia
Although some stratified surfaces are
moderately permeable to water and other
small molecules
The classification of stratified epithelia is
based on the shape and structure of the
surface cells since cells of the basal layer are
usually cuboidal in shape

Stratified Epithelia
Transitional epithelium is a stratified
epithelium found only in the outflow tract
with special features to make it waterproof as
well as expansile

Stratified Epithelia
1. Stratified squamous epithelium
Stratified squamous epithelium consists of a
variable number of cell layers that exhibit
maturation from a cuboidal basal layer
adherent to the underlying basement to a
flattened surface layer
The basal cells include continuously dividing
stem cells
Their offspring migrate towards the surface
where they are ultimately shed

Stratified Epithelia

Stratified Epithelia
Stratified squamous epithelium is well adapted
to withstand abrasion since loss of surface cells
does not compromise the underlying tissue
It is poorly adapted to withstand desiccation
This type of epithelium lines the oral cavity,
pharynx, esophagus, anal canal, uterine cervix
and vagina
These sites are subject to mechanical abrasion
but which are kept moist by glandular
secretions

Stratified Epithelia

HE
200x

Stratified Epithelia
The previous slide shows section from the
vagina
Note the cuboidal basal layer and the
maturation through the large polygonal cells of
intermediate layers to the flattened superficial
squamous cells

Stratified Epithelia

HE
200x

Stratified Epithelia
The previous slide shows section taken from
the skin
Keratinising stratified squamous epithelium
makes up the epithelial surface of the skin
(epidermis) and is adapted to withstand the
constant abrasion and desiccation to which the
body surface is exposed

Stratified Epithelia
During maturation, the epithelial cells
accumulate cross-linked cytokeratin
intermediate filaments in a process called
keratinisation resulting in the formation of a
tough, non-living surface layer cells

Stratified Epithelia
2. Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Stratified cuboidal epithelium is a thin,
stratified epithelium that usually consists of
only 2 or 3 layers of cuboidal cells
This type of epithelium is usually confined to
the lining of the larger excretory ducts of
exocrine glands such as the salivary glands

Stratified Epithelia
They are probably not involved in significant
absorptive or secretory activity but merely
provides more robust lining than would be
given by a simple epithelium

Stratified Epithelia

HE
320x

Stratified Epithelia
3. Transitional epithelium
Transitional epithelium (or urothelium)
Is a form of stratified epithelium found only in
the urinary tract
It is highly specialised to accommodate a
great degree of stretch and to withstand the
toxicity of urine

Stratified Epithelia
This epithelial type is so named because it has
some features intermediate (transitional)
between stratified cuboidal and stratified
squamous epithelia
In the non-distended state, transitional
epithelium appears to be about 4 - 5 cell layers
thick
The basal cells are roughly cuboidal
The intermediate cells are polygonal

Stratified Epithelia
The surface cells (umbrella or dome cells) are
large and rounded, and may contain 2 nuclei
In the stretched state, transitional epithelium
often appears only 2 - 3 cells thick (although
the actual number of layers remains constant)
The intermediate and surface layers are
extremely flattened

Stratified Epithelia
In the previous slide, the surface cells are large
and pale stained with a scalloped surface
outline often overlapping 2 or more of the
underlying cells (known as umbrella cells)
The luminal surface of the cells appears
thickened and more densely stained

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

The plasma membranes of epithelial cells
exhibit a variety of specialised structures that
allow them to perform their function as a
barrier with selective permeability
In some cases, the epithelial barrier is very
impermeable, e.g. the transitional epithelium
of the bladder

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

While in other epithelia such as the lining of
the small intestine or the convoluted tubules
of the kidney promote movement of selected
ions and molecules across the epithelium

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

There are 3 types of surfaces that have surface
specialisation:
1. Intercellular surfaces
2. Luminal surfaces
3. Basal surfaces

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

1. Intercellular surfaces
The adjacent or lateral surfaces of epithelial
cells are linked by cell junctions so that the
epithelium forms a continuous cohesive layer
Cell junctions also operate as communication
channels governing such functions as growth
and cell division

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

The various types of cell junction are
composed of transmembrane proteins that
interact with similar proteins on adjacent cells
and are linked to intercellular structures on the
cytoplasmic side
Cell junctions are of 3 functional types:
1. Tight junctions
2. Zonula adherens
3. Communicating junctions

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

I. Tight junctions (occluding junctions)
They block the passage of molecules
between adjacent cells
These are located immediately beneath the
luminal surface of simple columnar
epithelium (e.g. intestinal lining) where they
seal the intercellular spaces so that luminal
contents cannot penetrate between the
lining cells

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

Each tight junction forms a continuous
circumferential band or zonule around the cell
and is thus also known as zonula occludens

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

II. Zonula adherens (adhering belt)
Zonula adherens and desmosomes give the
epithelium strength by linking the
cytoskeletons of adjacent cells
Adhering junctions bind to the actin
cytoskeleton of the cell
The combination of zonula occludens, zonula
adherens and desmosomes is known as a
junctional complex

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

The junctional complex essentially divides the
plasma membrane of the cell into the apical
and basolateral surfaces
Desmosomes are also widely scattered
elsewhere in epithelial intercellular interfaces

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

III. Communicating junctions
Aka gap or nexus junctions
Provide a conduit for the passage of small
molecules directly between adjacent cells
These junctions allow signaling by the
passage of small molecules between adjacent
cells to coordinate and synchronise function
of the epithelium

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

2. Luminal surfaces
The luminal or apical surfaces of epithelial
cells may incorporate 3 main types of
specialisation: cilia, microvilli and stereocilia
Cilia are actively motile structures that are
easily resolved by light microscopy
In contrast, microvilli are shorter projections
of the plasma membrane that cannot be
individually resolved with the light
microscope

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

A single cell may have thousands of microvilli
or only a few
Stereocilia are merely extremely long microvilli
usually found only singly or in small numbers
Stereocilia are not motile

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

I. Cilia
Cilia are motile structures that project from
the apical surfaces of certain epithelial cells,
notably in the respiratory and female
reproductive tracts
Cilia beat with a wave-like synchronous
rhythm propelling surface films of mucus or
fluid in a consistent direction over the
epithelial surface

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

In the airways, mucus traps debris from
inspired air and the cilia move the mucus
towards the throat where it is swallowed, thus
keeping the airways clean
In the Fallopian tubes, ciliary action propels
the ovum from the ovary to the uterus
Cilia are up to 10 m long (up to half the
height of the cell)
A single epithelial cell may have up to 300 cilia
usually of similar length

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

II. Microvilli
Microvilli are minute finger-like projections of
the luminal plasma membrane found in many
epithelia, particularly those specialised for
absorption where their presence may
increase the surface area as much as 30-fold
Microvilli are only 0.5 - 1.0 m in length and
are thus very short in relation to the size of
the cell

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

Also, individual microvilli are too small to be
resolved by light microscopy
Most epithelia have only a small number of
irregular microvilli
However, in the small intestine and proximal
renal tubules the epithelial cells have up to
3000 regular microvilli per cell and these can
be seen with the light microscope as so-called
striated or brush borders

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

3. Stereocilia
Extremely long microvilli, readily visible with
light microscopy, are found in small numbers
in parts of the male reproductive tract such
as the epididymis
Stereocilia are thought to facilitate absorptive
processes in the epididymis

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

3. Basal surfaces
The interface between all epithelia and
underlying supporting tissues is marked by a
non-cellular structure known as the
basement membrane
This layer provides structural support for the
epithelium and constitutes a selective barrier
to the passage of materials between
epithelium and supporting tissue

Surface Specialisation of Epithelia

Hemidesmosomes, a variant of desmosomes,
bind the base of the cell to the underlying
basement membrane by linking to the cells
intermediate filament network

Glands
Goblet cell
Goblet cells are modified columnar epithelial
cells that synthesise and secrete mucus
They are scattered amongst the cells of many
simple epithelial linings, particularly those of
the respiratory and GI tracts
They can be stained by PAS stain (stains
carbohydrates magenta)

Glands

HE / PAS
400x

Glands
Mucus has a variety of functions:
1. In the upper GI tract, it protects the intestinal
lining cells from autodigestion
2. In the lower GI tract, it lubricates the passage of
faeces
3. In the respiratory tract, it protects the lining from
drying. It also contributes to the humidification of
inspired air and acts as a sticky surface trap for
fine dust particles and microorganisms

Glands
Epithelial cells are the major component of all
the glands of the body
The simplest glands can be easily recognised
as an invagination of a surface epithelium
However, there are also complex glandular
structures that have lost contact with the
epithelial surface completely

Glands
Therefore, there are 2 major subdivisions:
1. Exocrine glands
Release their contents onto an epithelial
surface either directly or via a duct

2. Endocrine glands
Do not have a duct system
Release their contents into the bloodstream
Can act on distant tissues

Exocrine Glands
These vary from microscopic sweat glands of
the skin to large solid organs such as the liver
The duct system of the liver ramifies
throughout the solid gland and empties its
secretions (bile) into the duodenum
The simple tubular glands (crypts) of the large
bowel consists entirely of the secretory
component and empty directly onto the
surface of the bowel

Glands
The simplest exocrine glands are single
mucus-secreting cells such as goblet cells
Exocrine glands can be subclassified according
to 2 major characteristics:

Glands
1. The morphology of the gland
Exocrine glands can be divided into the
secretory component and the duct
I.

The duct system may be branched ( compound

gland) or unbranched (simple gland)
II. The secretory component may be tubular or
acinar / alveolar (roughly spherical)
III. Both types of secretory component may also be
coiled or branched

Glands

Glands
2. The means of secretion
Secretion from exocrine glands may occur in
one of 3 ways:
I.

Merocrine (eccrine) secretion

Most common
Proteins usually the major secretory product

Glands
II. Apocrine secretion
Unusual mode of secretion
Usually used for lipid secretory products in the
breasts and some sweat glands
III. Holocrine secretion
Occurs principally in sebaceous glands

THE END