histology is the study of
tissues
tissue
a group of cells that share a similar structure and function and their extracellular matrix
2 major components of tissues
cells and extracellular matrix
extracellular matrix
a network of molecules and mineral which surround and support the cells within tissues- collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, hydroxyapatite
interstitial fluid functions
transport nutrients to cells, remove waste from cells, transport secretory products from cells
basic tissue types
epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, nervous tissue
epithelial tissue
functions in secretion, absorption, and excretion, forms sheets which line cavities of organs and cover body surface, forms many glands
connective tissue
supports body and holds it together, transports substances through body and protects it from foreign invaders, characterized by cells which produce abundant extracellular matrix
muscle tissue
formed of cells specialized for contraction and movement
nervous tissue
composed of cells with long, fine processes specialized for communication between various body structures and controls/integrates their activities
biopsy
tissue samples removed during medical procedures or surgery, fixed in formalin and studied microscopically
if biopsy results are needed during surgery
biopsy is rapidly frozen using liquid nitrogen and sectioned immediately, decisions can then be made during surgery based on whether or not a sample is malignant or otherwise diseased
epithelial tissue
can arise from all 3 germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm), is subdivided into 2 types (covering/lining epithelium and glandular epithelium)
covering (lining) epithelium
covers the body and lines body cavities, blood and lymphatic vessels, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts
glandular epithelium
forms secretory part of exocrine and endocrine glands
general functions of epithelial tissues
protection, sensory function, secretion, absorption, excretion
protection of epithelial tissue
the epidermis of skin is a covering epithelium that protects the body from dehydration, injury, and microbial invasion
sensory function of epithelial tissue
specialized epithelial sensory structures are found in the skin, nose, eye, and ear
secretion function of epithelial tissue
glandular epithelium produces many secretory products including digestive enzymes, hormones, mucus, and sweat
absorption function of epithelial tissue
lining epithelium of gut allows absorption of nutrients while that of lungs allows gas exchange, is essential
excretion function of epithelial tissue
epithelium of kidney tubules allows excretion of urine
characteristics of epithelial tissues
a very small amount of extracellular matrix, consist of a sheet of tightly packed cells, avascular, a permeable basement membrane attaching it to underlying ct that oxygen and nutrients diffuse through, a lamina propria that may contain smooth muscle, blood vessels and glands
basement membrane
a thin, noncellular layer which attaches the epithelial tissue to underlying connective tissue, is permeable
lamina propria
layer of connective tissue which lies deep to basement membrane of epithelium lining the respiratory, digestive, and urinary system, may contain smooth muscle, blood vessels, and glands
epithelial tissues are classified by
cell shape and how cells are layered
3 types of epithelium cell shapes and their similarities
squamous epithelium, cuboidal epithelium, columnar epithelium, each eithelial cell has an apical pole and basal pole
apical/basal poles
apical- faces a cavity or space, basal-rests on basement membrane, 2 poles differ in structure and function
simple epithelium
cells are arranged in a single layer
stratified epithelium
cells are arranged in multiple layers
simple squamous epithelium
one layer of squamous cells which readily allow substances to diffuse through them, found in alveoli of lungs, endothelium, mesothelium
endothelium
inner lining of blood and lymph vessels
mesothelium
membranes covering organs and body wall (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum)1
simple cuboidal epithelium
one layer of cuboidal cells resting on a basement membrane, found in glands and ducts, kidney tubules
simple columnar epithelium
one layer of columnar cells which forms the surface of mucous membranes, found in stomach & intestines, uterus & uterine tubules, parts of respiratory system
columnar epithelium may have 1 or more of these specialized structures
goblet cells, microvilli, stereocilia, cilia
goblet cells
contain large secretory vesicles which produce mucus, interspersed among enterocytes in small intestine
microvilli
microscopic fingerlike projections of plasma membrane of columnar cells, greatly increases the surface area of mucosa for absorption, found in intestines
stereocilia
absorptive in function, much longer than microvilli, may branch distally, found in male reproductive system
cilia
long microscopic hairlike processes which move material along a surface
pseudostratified columnar epithelium
a specialized type of columnar epithelium, has only 1 layer of cells, every cell touches basement membrane but some cells don’t reach surface of epithelium, nuclei vary in location of cells creating a false appearance of layering, contains numerous goblet cells
pseudostratified columnar epithelium is found in
respiratory air passages (nasal cavity, bronchi, trachea), male reproductive system
stratified squamous keratinized epithelium
multiple layers of cells with squamous cells forming the outermost layer, contains keratin and is protective in function, found in epidermis, resists mechanical damage and is found in masticatory mucosa covering gingivia and hard palate
keratin
a tough, fibrous protein found in skin, hair, and nails
stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
similar to stratified squamous keratinized epithelium but lacks keratin and surface is moist, found in mouth, pharynx, esophagus, vagina, forms lining mucosa covering soft palate, cheeks, floor of mouth, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
stratified cuboidal epithelium
2 or more layers of cuboidal cells arranged over a basement membrane, found in sweat glands, ovarian follicles
stratified columnar epithelium
multiple layers of cells, only those near surface appear columnar, found in male urethra
transitional epithelium
a specialized stratified epithelium present in organs subject to stretch (uterus, urinary bladder), multiple layers of cuboidal cells of varying sizes present, cells assume a squamous shape when organ is stretched, number of observable cell layers decreases with stretch
glandular epithelium
epithelium which is specialized for secretion, secretory portion of glands classified as tubular (short or long/coiled) or acinar (rounded/sac-like)
based on where they secrete their product, glands are classified as
exocrine and endocrine
exocrine glands
secrete their product into ducts which open into a hollow organ or on a surface, found in sweat glands, salivary glands, digestive glands of stomach and pancreas
endocrine glands
secrete their produce directly into bloodstream, includes pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and suprarenal glands
functional classifications of exocrine glands
holocrine, apocrine, merocrine
holocrine glands (exocrine)
secretory product collects in the cell which then ruptures to release it, the cell is destroyed in the process, ex-sebaceous glands
apocrine glands (exocrine)
secretory product collects at the apex (tip) of the cell, it’s then pinched off, releasing product into a duct, causes some damage to cell, ex-mammary glands
merocrine glands (exocrine)
secrete their product through the cell membrane without damage to the cell, most secretory cells are this type, ex- salivary glands
types of intercellular junctions
tight (occluding) junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes, gap junctions, hemidesmosomes
tight (occluding) junctions
forma seal between adjacent cells, most apical of intercellular junctions
adherens junctions
sites of strong cell adhesion found immediately below tight junctions
desmosomes
anchoring junction which forms a single “spot-weld”, does not form a belt around cell
gap junctions
channels for communication between cells
heidesmosomes
attached cells to basal lamina, resemble half a desmosome
connective tissue (CT)
a diverse and widespread tissue type, found in and around every organ in body, consists mainly of extracellular matrix, derived from mesoderm (mesoderm and neural crest cells only)
functions of connective tissue
attachment, support, transport, defense
attachment function of connective tissue
attaches tissues to each other, ex- attaches muscles to bones and bones to bones
support function of connective tissue
forms a supporting framework for body as a whole and for its individual organs
transport function of connective tissue
transports substances between tissues and bloodstream via diffusion through interstitial fluid
defense function of connective tissue
cells of immune system defend against invading pathogens
fibroblasts
most common cells found in connective tissue, develop from mesenchyme, permanent residents (natives) of connective tissue, secrete collage, elastin, and all components of ground substance, also function in tissue repair
adipocytes
fat cells, found in connective tissue of many organs
macrophages
phagocytic cells which are involved in turnover of protein fibers, remove cellular debris, neoplastic cells, bacteria, and other invaders (“big eater”)
mast cells
release mediators of inflammation such as histamine
plasma cells
lymphocyte derived cells which produce antibodies, involved in immune defense
leukocytes (not macrophages or plasma cells)
white blood cells, enter connective tissue from blood vessels (especially during inflammation), not native to connective tissue (unlike fibroblasts), formed in bone marrow and circulate in blood, move into connective tissue through blood vessel walls to perform functions
allergy
a hypersensitivity reaction of tissues to injury via trauma, bacterial infection, etc., release of histamine and other chemicals causes increase in vascular permeability at site of injury, large # of leukocytes pass through blood vessel walls into injured tissue through chemotaxis
chemotaxis
attraction of cells by specific chemicals
clinical signs of inflammation
redness, swelling, heat, and pain
extracellular matrix is made of
fibers and ground substance
major component of fibers found in ECM of CT
the protein collagen
collagen
most abundant protein in body, estimated to contribute over 30% of body’s dry weight, 28 types total but 4 most important
type I collagen
most abundant, found in skin, tendons, and ligaments, resists tension, big fibers
type II collagen
found in cartilage, resists compression
type III collagen
found in muscle, blood vessels, and lymphatic system, maintains structural integrity of expansible organs, forms reticular fibers
type IV collagen
found in basal laminae, supports epithelial cells, functions in filtration
fiber types
collagen fibers, reticular fibers, elastic fibers
collagen fibers
formed from type I collagen budles, tough, inelastic, and provide great tensile strength, found in skin, tendons, and ligaments
reticular fibers
delicate mesh-like fibers formed of type II collagen, occur in networks and support small structures (capillaries), found in stroma of liver, endocrine glands, lymph nodes, and spleen
elastic fibers
formed of elastin protein, allows tissues to stretch and return to original length, found in lungs, walls of large arteries, and external ear
ground substance
a highly hydrated gel-like substance which fills the space between fibers and cells in connective tissue, made of water and macromolecules
functions of ground substance
allows diffusion of molecules, acts as a lubricant, acts as a barrier to infection
macromolecules of ground substance
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans, multiadhesive glycoproteins
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
polysaccharide chains, most abundant is hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) which binds water and lubricates joints & organs
proteoglycans
larger molecules consisting of a core protein to which varying numbers of GAGs are bonded to
multiadhesive glycoproteins
bind cells to their sunstance
connective tissue proper subdivisions
loose (areolar) CT, dense irregular/regular CT, reticular tissue
loose (areolar) connective tissue
forms lamina propria layer beneath epithelium of many organs, fills spaces between muscle and nerve fibers, surrounds and supports blood vessels and nerves, contains cells, gibers, and ground substance roughly in equal amounts, has a delicate consistency, is flexible and not very resistant to stress, one of most widely distributed tissue types in body
dense connective tissue
consists primarily of densely packed collagen (type I) fibers with fewer cells and less ground substance than loose CT, divided into 2 subtypes- irregular and regular
dense irregular connective tissue
bundles of collagen fibers are randomly interwoven with no definite orientation, can resist stress in any direction, found in dermis of skin, deep fascia, and capsule of organs (kidney, spleen)
dense regular connective tissue
bundles of collagen fibers arranged into parallel rows, great tensile strength, resists stress in 1 direction, found in tendons, aponeuroses, and ligaments, poorly vascularized results in slow repair
reticular tissue
net or mesh-like tissue composed of reticular fibers formed of type III collagen, forms framework of spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, functions as a filter removing worn out RBCs in spleen and pathogens in lymph nodes (which are later phagocytized)
tissue repair
tissue healing depends on activity of fibroblasts (fill gaps caused by injury with CT), in patients who survive heart attacks damaged cardiac juscle is replaced by dense irregular scar tissue by fibroblasts