Biology 112
Chapter 5: Tissues
Epithelial Tissue (epithelium): a sheet of cells that lines a body cavity or
covers a body surface
 covering & lining epithelium: skin & lining of body cavities
 glandular epithelium: forms glands
 many functions: protection, absorption, secretion, excretion, filtration, sensory
reception
 capable of regeneration
 epithelial tissue is avascular
 basement membrane: anchors epithelium to underlying connective tissue;
part of extracellular matrix
Classification of Epithelia:
 squamous (flattened), cuboidal (cube-shaped), & columnar (columnshaped) cells
 simple (1 layer) or stratified (multiple layers)
Simple Squamous Epithelial Tissue: single layer of flattened cells with discshaped nuclei & little cytoplasm
 locations: in kidney glomeruli, air sacs of lungs, heart lining, blood vessels &
lymphatic vessels, lining of ventral body cavity
 functions: diffusion & filtration; secretes lubricating substances in serosae
Simple Cuboidal Epithelial Tissue: single layer of cube-shaped cells with large
spherical nuclei; often seen in circular pattern when cut in cross section
 locations: in kidney tubules, ducts of small glands, ovary surface
 functions: secretion & absorption
Simple Columnar Epithelial Tissue: single layer of column-shaped cells with
oval nuclei; some have cilia or microvilli; may include goblet cells
 locations: nonciliated in most of digestive tract, gallbladder & excretory ducts
of some glands; ciliated in small bronchi, some regions of uterus
 functions: absorption, secretion of mucus, enzymes...; ciliated propels
mucus, reproductive cells
Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelial Tissue: single layer of mostly columnshaped cells with different heights (some don't reach apical surface) & nuclei at
different levels; some have cilia; may include goblet cells
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 locations: nonciliated in male sperm-carrying ducts & ducts of large glands;
ciliated type lines trachea & most of upper respiratory tract
 functions: secretion & propulsion of mucus
Stratified Squamous Epithelial Tissue: multiple layers; basal layer cuboidal or
columnar - carry out metabolism & mitosis; outer layers are keratinized
 locations: nonkeratinized in most of digestive tract, gallbladder & excretory
ducts of some glands; keratinized in epidermis of skin
 functions: protects underlying tissues
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelial Tissue: several layers – lines lumen of
ducts/tubes
 locations: ovarian follicles, seminiferous tubules & some large ducts of
glands (mammary, sweat, salivary, pancreatic)
 functions: protection, secretion
Stratified Columnar Epithelial Tissue: several layers - basal layer usually
cuboidal
 locations: male urethra & vas deferens; parts of pharynx
 functions: protection, secretion
Transitional Epithelial Tissue: several layers - basal layer cuboidal or
columnar; surface cells dome-shaped or squamous-like (depending on stretch)
 locations: ureters, bladder & part of urethra
 functions: stretches & distends urinary organ
Glandular Epithelial Tissue
Gland: 1 or more cells that produce & secrete a specific product
- unicellular or multicellular
Endocrine glands: release product into extracellular space
- ductless glands... eventually lose their ducts
Exocrine glands: release product to an epithelial surface
 includes mucus, sweat, oil, & salivary glands
 merocrine glands: secrete product by exocytosis
● serous cells: secrete watery fluid with enzymes called serous fluid
● mucous cells: secrete mucus, containing the glycoprotein mucin
 goblet cells: serve protective function in gastrointestinal &
respiratory tracts
 apocrine glands: lose small portions of gland during secretion
 holocrine glands: accumulate product until gland ruptures
Connective Tissue: most abundant primary tissue
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 connective tissues bind structures, provide support & protection, serve as
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frameworks, fill spaces, store fat, produce blood cells, protect against
infections & help repair tissue damage
cells in connective tissue are varied and usually divide
range of vascularity, but most have good blood supplies
extracellular matrix (collagen or elastin fibers; calcium phosphate (bone)
ground substance: fills space between cells & contains fibers
Connective Tissue Cells:
 fibroblasts (many types)
 chondrocytes (cartilage) & osteocytes (bone)
 white blood cells, mast cells, macrophages (blood,...)
Connective Tissue Fibers:
 collagen: thick fibers (of collagen protein); provide tensile strength (resist
tension)
 elastic: thin fibers made of elastin protein; stretch easily
 reticular: very thin collagenous fibers; lend delicate support (lymphoid
tissues)
Connective Tissue Types:
Areolar (Loose) Connective Tissue: gel-like matrix with all 3 fiber types;
fibroblasts, mast cells, macrophages & some white blood cells
 location: under many epithelia (forms lamina propria); around organs &
capillaries
 functions: cushions organs; many immune cells regulate immunity
Adipose Connective Tissue: closely packed adipocytes (fat cells with large fat
droplet)
 location: under skin, around kidneys & eyeballs, within abdomen, breasts
 functions: cushions organs; reserve food fuel, insulation
 Dense Connective Tissue: dense (primarily) parallel collagen fibers, few
elastin fibers; fibroblasts
 location: tendons, ligaments, dermis of skin, digestive submucosa, fibrous
capsules of organs & joints
 functions: attaches muscles to bone & other muscles, attaches bones to
bones; withstands high stress; adds structural strength
Cartilage: mostly water; no blood vessels or nerves
 surrounded by a layer of dense irregular connective tissue - the
perichondrium, which contains blood vessels
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 contains chondrocytes in lacunae, ground substance & fibers
 3 types: hyaline, elastic & fibrocartilage
 hyaline cartilage: amorphous firm matrix; collagen fibers form glassy
(invisible) network; chondrocytes in lacunae
● location: embryonic skeleton, covers long bones in joints, costal
cartilage of ribs, cartilage of nose, trachea & larynx
● functions: support, cushioning, resists stress
 elastic cartilage: similar to hyaline cartilage, with elastin fibers in matrix
● location: external ear (pinna), epiglottis
● functions: maintains shape while adding flexibility
 fibrocartilage: similar to hyaline, less firm with thick collagen fibers in matrix
● location: intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, knee joint discs
● functions: tensile strength, absorbs shock
Bone: hard calcified matrix, many collagen fibers, well-vascularized, osteocytes
in lacunae
 location: bones
 functions: support, levers for muscles, calcium storage, blood cell formation
(hematopoiesis) in marrow
Blood: red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) &
platelets in fluid matrix (plasma)
 location: in blood vessels
 functions: transports oxygen & carbon dioxide, nutrients, wastes & other
substances
Muscle Tissue:
Skeletal Muscle: multinucleate, long cylindrical cells with peripheral nuclei;
striated; voluntary muscle
 location: attached to bones of skeleton
 function: contraction helps move bones
Smooth Muscle: uninucleate, spindle-shaped cells; centrally located nucleus;
nonstriated; involuntary muscle
 location: lines hollow passageways such as: walls of blood vessels, airways
to lungs, stomach, intestines & bladder
 function: contraction helps constrict or narrow lumen of blood vessels, break
down & move food through GI tract, move fluids & eliminate wastes
Cardiac Muscle: one centrally located nucleus (usually); striated; branched;
intercalated discs (desmosomes & gap junctions) between cells
 location: myocardium of heart
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 function: contraction helps propel blood from heart to tissues
Nervous Tissue: neurons & neuroglial cells (supporting cells)
 location: brain, spinal cord & nerves
 functions: transmit electrical signals from sensory receptors to effectors
Types of Membranes:
 serous: fluid membrane surrounding organs... pleura (lungs), pericardium
(heart), peritoneum (digestive organs)
● visceral & parietal
 mucous: lines body cavities (digestive tract, respiratory tract)
● specialized cells (glands) may secrete mucus
 cutaneous (epithelial): skin
 synovial membranes: line cavities of freely movable joints
 areolar CT with elastic fibers & adipocytes
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