Chapter 3:
Fundamental Cells and Tissues
CellsIn the late 1600’s British born Robert Hooke coinedthe term "cell" to describe the basic unit of life.
Where did the term cell come from?•In 1665 Robert Hooke inspected thin slices of cork and found that they consisted of millions of small, “irregular units”•He used the term cell because the small, bare spaces reminded him of cells in a prison
Cell Basics
• Cells are the building blocks of all plants and animals
• All cells come from the division of preexisting cells
• Cells are the smallest units that perform all vital physiological functions
• Each cell maintains homeostasis at the cellular level
Cell Basics continuedLiving cells are about 60 % H20
All body cells are constantly bathed in a dilute saltwater solution called interstitial fluid (18 pints).
All exchanges between cells and blood are made through this fluid
Cell Facts
• The human body contains trillions of cells (200 types of cells)
• The average cells is just 0.02mm across• The largest cell in the body is an egg cell (0.15mm)• The longest cells are the nerve cells supplying your
legs (some measure as much as 4ft in length)• Five million of your body cells die every second
TissuesTissues - Groups of cells similar in structure and function
The four types of tissues:
1. Epithelial2. Connective3. Muscle4. Nerve (Neural)
Epithelial TissueEpithelium – A sheet of cells that covers a body surface or lines a
body cavity.Occurs in the body in two ways:
1. Epithelia – covering and lining epithelium
- Forms the outer layer of the skin
- Lines the open cavities of the cardiovascular, digestive, urinary and respiratory systems and covers the walls and organs
2. Glandular Epithelium
- Forms the glands of the body
Special Characteristics of Epithelium1. Cells fit closely together to form continuous sheets
(single/multiple layers)2. Membranes always have one free surface or edge
(exposed to body cavity, exterior of the body or lining an internal organ)
3. Lowest surface (basal surface) of epithelium rests on a basement membrane
4. Epithelial tissues have no blood supply (avascular) of their own; comes from nearby tissues by way of diffusion
5. If well nourished, epithelial cells regenerate themselves (high rate of mitosis)
Epithelial Tissue
Epithelial Functions include:A. Protection – against injury, invasion by
bacteria, loss of water and heatB. Permeability – selective absorption C. Sensation – provide information about the
external and internal environments (example - sense smell)
D. Secretion – releases a substance (example – mucus)
Classification of Epithelial Tissue
Cell Shape:• Squamous = flat (attach like tiles)• Cuboidal = thicker, cube shaped• Columnar = tall, cylindrical• Transitional = change shape from
columnar/cuboidal to flat due to stretching
Classification of Epithelia
Figure 4.1b
Squamous (skwa’mus) Flattened and scalelike
Cubodial (ku-boi’dahl) Boxlike, as tall as they are wide.
Columnar Tall and column shaped.
Classification of Epithelial Tissue
Number of cell layers:• Simple = one layer (squamous, cuboidal,
columnar)• Stratified = Multilayered (squamous, cuboidal,
columnar, transitional)• Pseudostratified Columnar= one layer but
appears multilayered (not all cells reach the surface)
Classification of Epithelial Tissue
Each epithelium is given two names. 1. The first name indicates the number of cell layers present2. The second name describes the shape of its cells3. Followed by epithelium or epithelial tissueExample : 4. Simple (1 layer)5. Squamous (Flat cell shape)6. Epithelium
Epithelia: Simple Squamous
Figure 4.2a
Epithelia: Simple Cuboidal
Figure 4.2b
• Single layer of cubelike cells with large, spherical central nuclei
• Function in secretion and absorption• Present in kidney tubules, ducts and secretory
portions of small glands, and ovary surface
Epithelia: Simple Columnar
Figure 4.2c
Epithelia: Pseudostratified Columnar
Figure 4.2d
• Single layer of cells with different heights; some do not reach the free surface
• Nuclei are seen at different layers• Function in secretion and propulsion of mucus• Present in the male sperm-carrying ducts
(nonciliated) and trachea (ciliated)
Epithelia: Stratified Squamous – Most Common
Figure 4.2e
• Thick membrane composed of several layers of cells
• Function in protection of underlying areas subjected to abrasion
• Forms the external part of the skin’s epidermis (keratinized cells), and linings of the esophagus, mouth, and vagina (nonkeratinized cells)
Epithelia: Stratified Cuboidal and Columnar
Stratified cuboidal– Quite rare in the body– Found in some sweat and mammary glands– Typically two cell layers thick
Stratified columnar – Limited distribution in the body– Found in the pharynx, male urethra, and lining of some
glandular ducts– Also occurs at transition areas between two other types
of epithelia
Epithelia: Transitional
Figure 4.2f
• Several cell layers, basal cells are cuboidal, surface cells are dome shaped
• Stretches to permit the distension of the urinary bladder
• Lines the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra
Epithelia: Glandular
Gland - One or more cells that makes and secretes a particular product (secretion).
Classified by:– Site of product release
endocrine (internally secreting) exocrine (externally secreting)
– Relative number of cells forming the gland unicellular (one-celled) multicellular (many-celled)
Endocrine Glands
• Ductless glands that produce hormones• Hormones are regulatory chemicals that enter
the blood or lymphatic fluid and travel to organs• Each hormone prompts its target organ to
respond in some characteristic way
Exocrine Glands• More numerous than endocrine glands• Secrete their products onto body surfaces (skin)
or into body cavities• Examples include mucus, sweat, oil, salivary
glands, the liver (secretes bile), the pancreas (synthesizes digestive enzymes)
• Unicellular & Multicellular
Mitosis
• Equal division of material in the nucleus, followed by division of the cell body (nuclear cell division)
• Epithelial cells have a high rate of mitosis to allow for frequent repair