Laboratory Exercise
8
Epithelial Tissues
Pre-Lab
11. Carefully
Carefull read the introductory material and
examine the entire lab content.
2. Be familiar with epithelial tissues (from lecture or
the textbook).
3. Visit www.mhhe.com/martinseries1 for pre-lab
questions.
Materials Needed
C
Compound light microscope
Prepared slides of the following epithelial tissues:
Simple squamous epithelium (lung)
Simple cuboidal epithelium (kidney)
Simple columnar epithelium (small intestine)
Pseudostratified (ciliated) columnar epithelium
(trachea)
Stratified squamous epithelium (esophagus)
Transitional epithelium (urinary bladder)
For Learning Extension Activity:
Colored pencils
A tissue is composed of a layer or group of cells
similar in size, shape, and function. Within the human body,
there are four major types of tissues: (1) epithelial, which
cover the body’s external and internal surfaces and most
glands; (2) connective, which bind and support parts; (3)
muscle, which make movement possible; and (4) nervous,
which conduct impulses from one part of the body to another
and help to control and coordinate body activities.
Epithelial tissues are tightly packed single (simple) to
multiple (stratified) layers of cells that provide protective
barriers. The underside of this tissue layer contains an acellu-
lar basement membrane layer of adhesives and collagen with
which the epithelial cells anchor to an underlying connective
tissue. A unique type of simple epithelium, pseudostratified
columnar, appears to be multiple cells thick. However, this
is a false appearance because all cells bind to the basement
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membrane. The cells readily divide and lack blood vessels
(are avascular).
Epithelial cells always have a free (apical) surface
exposed to the outside or to an open space internally and
a basal surface that attaches to the basement membrane.
Many shapes of the cells, like squamous (flat), cuboidal, and
columnar, exist that are used to name and identify the varia-
tions. Epithelial cell functions include protection, filtration,
secretion, and absorption. Many of the prepared slides con-
tain more than the tissue to be studied, so be certain that your
view matches the correct tissue. Also be aware that stained
colors of all tissues might vary.
The slides you observe might have representative tis-
sue from more than one site, but the basic tissue structure
will be similar to those represented in this laboratory exer-
cise. Simple squamous epithelium is located in the air sacs
(alveoli) of the lungs and inner linings of the heart and blood
vessels. Simple cuboidal epithelium is situated in kidney
tubules, thyroid gland, liver, and ducts of salivary glands.
A nonciliated type of simple columnar epithelium is located
in the linings of the uterus, stomach, and intestines, and a
ciliated type lines the uterine tubes. A ciliated type of pseu-
dostratified columnar epithelium is positioned in the linings
of the upper respiratory tubes. A keratinized type of stratified
squamous epithelium is found in the epidermis of the skin,
and a nonkeratinized type in the linings of the oral cavity,
esophagus, vagina, and anal canal. Transitional epithelium
lines the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra.
Purpose of the Exercise
To review the characteristics of epithelial tissues and to
observe examples.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this exercise, you should be able to
1 Identify and sketch six examples of epithelial tissues on
microscope slides.
2 Differentiate the special characteristics of each type of
epithelial tissue.
3 Indicate a location and function of each type of epithe-
lial tissue.
4 Inventory the general characteristics of epithelial tissues
that you were able to observe.
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 FIGURE 8.1 Micrographs of epithelial tissues. Note: The brackets to the right of each micrograph indicate the tissue.

Free (apical) surface of tissue (side view)

Lumen
Nucleus

Basement membrane Nucleus

Basement membrane
Connective tissue
Free surface of tissue

Connective tissue

(a) Simple squamous epithelium (side view)

(b) Simple cuboidal epithelium (from kidney)

Cilia (on free surface of tissue)

Nucleus in basal Microvilli Cytoplasm

portion of cell Free surface of tissue Goblet cell

Goblet cell

Nuclei

Basement membrane
Connective tissue
Basement membrane
Connective tissue
(c) Simple columnar epithelium (from intestine)
(d) Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia (from trachea)

Free surface of tissue

Free surface of tissue
Squamous cells

Layer of dividing cells

Basement membrane
Nuclei
Connective tissue
(e) Stratified squamous epithelium (nonkeratinized)
(from esophagus)

Procedure—Epithelial Tissues Basement membrane

1. Review the introductory material and complete Part A Connective tissue
of Laboratory Report 8.
2. Use the microscope to observe the prepared slides of types
of epithelial tissues. As you observe each tissue, look for (f) Transitional epithelium (unstretched) (from urinary bladder)
its special distinguishing features such as cell size, shape,
and arrangement. Compare your prepared slides of epi-
thelial tissues to the micrographs in figure 8.1.

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 3. As you observe the tissues in figure 8.1 and the prepared FIGURE 8.2 Three possible cuts of a banana:
slides, note characteristics epithelial tissues have in com- (a) longitudinal section; (b) cross section; (c) oblique
mon. List characteristics you were able to observe in Part section. Sections through an organ, as a body tube,
B of the laboratory report. frequently produce views similar to the cut banana.
4. As you observe each type of epithelial tissue, prepare a
labeled sketch of a representative portion of the tissue in
Part C of the laboratory report.
5. Test your ability to recognize each type of epithelial
tissue. To do this, have a laboratory partner select one
of the prepared slides, cover its label, and focus the
microscope on the tissue. Then see if you can correctly
identify the tissue. 1
6. Complete Parts B and C of the laboratory report.

Learning Extension Activity

As you observe histology slides, be aware that tissues

and some organs may have been sectioned in longi- (a)
tudinal (lengthwise cut), cross section (cut across),
or oblique (angular cut) ways. Observe figure 8.2 for
how this can be demonstrated on cuts of a banana. The
direction in which the tissue or organ was cut will result
in a certain perspective when it is sectioned, just as the
banana was cut three different ways. Often a tissue slide
has more than one tissue represented and has blood
vessels or other structures cut in various ways. Locate
an example of a longitudinal section, cross section, and
oblique section of some structure on one of your tissue
slides.

(b)

(c)

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 NOTES

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 Name
Laboratory Report Date

8 Section
The corresponds to the Learning Outcome(s) listed at the beginning of the
laboratory exercise.

Epithelial Tissues
Part A Assessments
Match the tissues in column A with the characteristics in column B. Place the letter of your choice in the space provided. (Some
answers may be used more than once.) 2
Column A Column B
a. Simple columnar epithelium f
_______ 1. Consists of several layers of cube-shaped, elongated, and irregular
b. Simple cuboidal epithelium cells
c. Simple squamous epithelium d
_______ 2. Commonly possesses cilia that move dust and mucus out of the
d. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium airways
e. Stratified squamous epithelium c
_______ 3. Single layer of flattened cells
f. Transitional epithelium
d
_______ 4. Nuclei located at different levels within cells
c
_______ 5. Forms walls of capillaries and air sacs of lungs
d
_______ 6. Forms linings of trachea and bronchi
e
_______ 7. Younger cells cuboidal, older cells flattened
f
_______ 8. Forms inner lining of urinary bladder
b
_______ 9. Lines kidney tubules and ducts of salivary glands
a
_______ 10. Forms lining of stomach and intestines
a
_______ 11. Nuclei located near basement membrane
e
_______ 12. Forms lining of oral cavity, anal canal, and vagina

Part B Assessments
As you examined each specific epithelial tissue, you should have noted some of the general characteristics that they possess as
described in the introduction of the laboratory exercise. List any of these you were able to observe. 4
Answers will vary.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Part C Assessments
In the space that follows, sketch a few cells of each type of epithelium you observed. For each sketch, label the major charac-
teristics, indicate the magnification used, write an example of a location in the body, and provide a function. 1 2 3

(sketches)

Simple squamous epithelium (____×) Simple cuboidal epithelium (____×)

Location: __________________________________________ Location: __________________________________________
Function: __________________________________________ Function: __________________________________________

Simple columnar epithelium (____×) Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia (____×)
Location: __________________________________________ Location: __________________________________________
Function: __________________________________________ Function: __________________________________________

Stratified squamous epithelium (____×) Transitional epithelium (____×)

Location: __________________________________________ Location: __________________________________________
Function: __________________________________________ Function: __________________________________________

Critical Thinking Activity

C Learning Extension Activity

As a result of your observations of epithelial tissues, Use colored pencils to differentiate various cellu-
which
hi h one(s)
( provide(s) the best protection? Explain lar structures in Part C. Select a different color for a
Stratified squamous epithelium
your answer. _________________________________ nucleus, cytoplasm, plasma membrane, basement mem-
brane, goblet cell, and cilia whenever visible.
would have excellent protection as it is several
____________________________________________
cells thick. Pseudostratified columnar
____________________________________________
epithelium with cilia would provide good
____________________________________________
movement of mucus and trapped particles
away from the lungs.
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