Anatomy and Physiology

Chapter 4: Histology the study of cells

Histology- is the study of tissue

Tissue-is a group of similar cells that have a common embryonic origin and function
together to carry out a specialized activity

Tissue Types
A. Epithelial
B. Connective
C. Muscle
D. Nervous
These tissue types surround all the body’s cells
Have 2 major subdivisions
1. Intercellular fluid
2. Plasma

Cell Junctions
There are 3 types of cell junctions
1. Tight junction- which forms a fluid tight seal between cells (found in
epithelial cells)
2. Anchoring junction- it fastens cell to each other or to an extra cellular
material
-Contains desmosomes which attach to cells with microfilaments (like
cement)
3. Communicating Junctions- gap junctions permit both electrical and chemical
signals to pass from one cell to another

Epithelial Tissue
A. Function is to cover surfaces of the body, line interior cavities
B. Closely packed together with lots of cell junctions
C. Arrange in continuous sheets
D. Apical (outside or free) surface and Basal (bottom) surface
E. Avascular without a direct blood supply
F. Basement membrane is a thin extra cellular attachment between epithelium
and connect tissues below
G. Has nerve supply
H. High rate of mitosis (cell division)
I. Function is for protection, secretion, and filtration
Naming of Epithelial Tissue
1. Arrangement of layers
a. Simple- 1 thick cell layer
b. Stratified-several thick cell layers
c. Pseudo stratified- only one thick cell later but cells can be twisted to
appear multilayered
2. Cell Shaped
a. Squamous- flat
b. Cuboidal- cube-shaped
c. Columnar- upright rectangle shaped
d. Transitional- can change shape (usually cuboidal to squamous)
To get name add layer arrangement to the cell shape

Epithelial Tissue Types

1. Structure- is how it is put together
2. Location- is where it can be found in the body
3. Function- is what does it do

A. Simple Squamous
a. Structure: single layers of flat cells
b. Location: lining of the blood vessels, and air sacs of lungs
c. Function: Diffusion, and Osmosis
B. Simple Cuboidal
a. Structure: single layer square shaped cell, nucleus large and round
b. Location: tubules of kidneys
c. Function: secretion and absorption
C. Stratified Squamous
a. Structure: many layers of flat cells
b. Location: outer layer of skin, vagina, esophagus
1. outer layer of skin is keratinized (filled with waterproof
keratin)
2. no nucleus is present
3. vagina and esophagus is non keratinized so it says moist
c. Function: protection
D. Stratified Cuboidal
a. Structure: many layers of square cells
b. Location: ducts of adult sweat glands, ducts of salvatory glands
c. Function: protection
E. Stratified Columnar
a. Structure: several layers of rectangular cells
b. Location: mammary ducts, male urethra
c. Function: protection and secretion
 F. Transitional
a. Structure: Appearance is variable, transitions between squamous
and cuboidal in the top layers, it is stratified.
b. Location: urinary bladder, portions of urethra and uterers
c. Function: Permits distention without injuring cell

G. Pseudo Stratified Ciliated Columnar

a. Structure: Single layer of twisted cells that many appear stratified at
first glace, they contain cilia and can also contain goblet cells
b. Location: lines the respiratory tract
c. Function: Filtration

Glandular Epithelium
A. Exocrine Glands
1.secrete their products into ducts
2.sweat glands, oil glands, and earwax glands
B. Endocrine Glands
1. Ductless glands, secrete material directly into the tissue space
2. Is absorbed into the blood
3. Estrogen, testosterone, growth hormones

There are 3 types of functional exocrine glands

1. Holocrone- cell will produce a product, and fills the cytoplasm. The cell dies
and entire cell with contents are excreted (sebaceous gland)
2. Merocrine- simply forms a product and discharges it from the cell, most
exocrine glands are this type (salivary gland)
3. Apocrine- accumulates product at the apical end of a cell which breaks off
and is excreted (mammary glands)

Connective Tissue
Its general features will usually consist of 3 basic elements, ground substances,
and fibers
1. cells are usually embedded in the ground substance matrix with fibers
providing it with strength
2. Does not have a free surface
3. Has a nerve and blood supply (except for cartilage)
- bone heals faster than cartilage due to direct blood supply
4. Ground substances (matrix) is secreted by connective tissue
Connective Tissue Cell Types
1. blast cells- cell that produces tissue (osteoblasts)
2. cyte cells- cells that maintain daily metabolism (osteocyte)
3. clast cells- Cells that breakdown tissue (osteoclast)
Connective Tissue Matrix
1. the matrix contains protein fibers embedded in gel, fluid, or solid ground
substance
2. matrix substance supports cells and binds them together
3. fibers
a. collage fibers contain protein collagen, white when alive, show up
pink or purple on slides
b. elastic fibers contain the protein elastin that can stretch and snap back
c. Reticular fibers-specialized collagen fibers, is the coating of
glycoprotein, they form a fishnet patter to hold soft organs together

Classification of Connective Tissue

A. Embryonic connective tissue
1. Mesechyme
a. structure: consists of irregulary shapped cells, embedded in
gel like matrix
b. Location: in adult found in developing
c. Function: forms into any type of connective tissue
2. Mucous connective tissue
a. Structure: consists of irregularly shaped cells, embedded in
jelly like matrix
b. Location: umbilical cord of fetus
c. Function: support
3. Lose Connective tisse
Areolar
a. Structure: consists mostly of collagen and elastic fibers with
serveral kinds of cells (fibroblast, adipose cells)
b. Location: subcutaneous layer of skin, mucous membrane
c. Function: strength, support, elasticity
Adipose
a. Structure: consists of adipocytes, that are specialized for fat
storage (look like marshmallows) 1 big fat droplet in each
celled, nucleus against the cell membrane
b. Location: subcutupcour layer of skin, around heart and
kidney, and yellow marrow of bones
c. Function: energy reserve, cushion organs, reduce heat loss
Reticular
a. Structure: consists of network or interlacing reticular fibers
and cells
b. Location: framework for liver, spleen and lympth nodes
(spleen usually only hurt in trauma)
c. Function: support and shape organ
On slide fibers appear to look like cracked glass
Dense Connective Tissue