INSTRUCTOR NOTES FOR EXERCISE

5
Classification of Tissues

Time Allotment: 2 hours.

Advance Preparation
1. Set out prepared slides of simple squamous, simple cuboidal, simple columnar, stratified
squamous (nonkeratinized), pseudostratified ciliated columnar, and transitional epithelium.
2. Set out prepared slides of adipose, areolar, reticular, and dense regular (tendon) connective
tissue; of hyaline cartilage; and of bone (cross section).
3. Set out prepared slides of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle (longitudinal sections).
4. Set out prepared slide of nervous tissue (spinal cord smear).
5. Set out lens paper and lens cleaning solution. Have compound microscopes available.

Comments and Pitfalls

1. Slides of the lung are suggested for simple squamous epithelium and slides of the kidney
are suggested for simple cuboidal epithelium.
2. The dense fibrous regular connective tissue slide is sometimes labeled “white fibrous tissue.”
3. Students may have trouble locating the appropriate tissue on slides with multiple tissue
types. Encourage them to consult lab manual Figures 5.2–5.5, the Histology Atlas on
pp. 371–380, and each other for help.
4. A television camera with a microscope adapter and monitor is very useful in this lab.
By watching the monitor, students can observe the instructor locating the correct area of
tissue on the slide (see item 3 in Comments and Pitfalls). It also makes it easier to answer
student questions and share particularly good slides with the class.

42 Copyright © 2018 Pearson Education, Inc.

a. Columnar c. Squamous
b. Cuboidal d.. Transitional

a. Simple cuboidal c. Stratified Squamous

b. Simple columnar d.. Transitional

a. bones c. neurons
b. ligaments d. tendons

Neurons/neuroglial cells

a. Cardiac muscle b. skeletal muscle c. smooth muscle

 44 Exercise 5

Epithelial tissues, or epithelia, cover or line surfaces. For (height) (Figure 5.1). In regard to the number of layers,
example, epithelia cover the external body surface (as the epider- epithelia are classified as follows:
mis), line its cavities, and generally mark off our “insides” from
our outsides. Because glands of the body almost always develop • Simple epithelia consist of one layer of cells attached to
the basement membrane.
from epithelial membranes, glands too are classed as epithelia.
Epithelial functions include protection, absorption, fil- • Stratified epithelia consist of two or more layers of cells.
tration, excretion, secretion, and sometimes sensory recep- Based on cell shape, epithelia are classified into three
tion. For example, the epithelium covering the body protects categories:
against bacterial invasion and chemical damage; that lining
5 the respiratory tract is ciliated to sweep dust and other foreign • Squamous (scalelike)
particles away from the lungs. Secretion is a specialty of the • Cuboidal (cubelike)
glands, and taste receptors are epithelial cells. • Columnar (column-shaped)
Epithelia generally exhibit these characteristics:
The terms denoting shape and arrangement of the epithe-
• Cells fit closely together to form membranes, or sheets of lial cells are combined to describe the epithelium fully. Strat-
cells, and are bound together by specialized junctions. ified epithelia are named according to the cells at the apical
• The membranes always have one exposed surface or free surface of the epithelial membrane, not those resting on the
edge, called the apical surface. basement membrane.
• The cells are attached to and supported by an adhesive There are also two less easily categorized types of epithe-
basement membrane, a material secreted collectively by the lia. Pseudostratified epithelium is actually a simple colum-
epithelial cells and the connective tissue cells that lie next to nar epithelium (one layer of cells with all cells attached to
each other. the basement membrane), but its cells extend varied distances
from the basement membrane, so it gives the false appearance
• Epithelial tissues have no blood supply of their own (are of being stratified. Transitional epithelium is a rather pecu-
avascular), but depend on diffusion of nutrients from the un-
liar stratified squamous epithelium formed of rounded, or
derlying connective tissue. (The exception is glandular epi-
“plump,” cells with the ability to slide over one another to
thelial tissue, which is very vascular.)
allow the organ to be stretched. Transitional epithelium is
• If well nourished, epithelial cells can easily regenerate found only in urinary system organs. The superficial cells are
themselves. This is an important characteristic because many flattened (like true squamous cells) when the organ is
epithelia are subjected to a good deal of friction and other distended, or full, and are rounded when the organ is empty.
types of trauma. Please note, there was no instruction The most common
to scale art types
larger,of epithelia, their characteristic
The covering and lining epitheliaso are classifiedfloats
it currently accord- locations
within the doubleincolumn
the body, and their functions are described in
space.
ing to two criteria—relative number of layers and cell shape Figure 5.2.

Apical surface

Basal surface Squamous

Simple
Apical surface

Cuboidal
Basal surface
Stratified
(a)

Figure 5.1 Classification of epithelia.

(a) Classification on the basis of arrangement
(relative number of layers). (b) Classification on
the basis of cell shape. For each category, a whole Columnar
cell is shown on the left, and a longitudinal section
is shown on the right. (b) Text continues on page 48. ➔
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 46 Exercise 5

(c) Simple columnar epithelium (d) Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Description: Single Description: Single layer of

layer of tall cells cells of differing heights,
with round to oval nuclei; some not reaching the
some cells bear cilia; free surface, but all
layer may contain touching the basement
mucus-secreting membrane; nuclei seen at
goblet cells. different levels; may contain
goblet cells and bear cilia.
5

Location: Nonciliated type Location: Nonciliated type

lines most of the digestive in ducts of large glands,
tract (stomach to rectum) parts of male urethra;
and gallbladder; ciliated ciliated variety lines
variety lines small bronchi the trachea, most of the
and uterine tubes. upper respiratory tract.

Trachea

Function: Absorption; secretion of mucus, enzymes, and Function: Secrete substances, particularly of mucus;
other substances; ciliated type propels mucus (or repro- propulsion of mucus by ciliary action.
ductive cells) by ciliary action.

Photomicrograph: Simple columnar epithelium of the Photomicrograph: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar

small intestine mucosa (660:). epithelium lining the human trachea (530:).

Microvilli
(brush border) Pseudo-
Simple stratified
columnar epithelial
epithelial layer
cell Cilia
Goblet Mucus of
cell goblet cell
Basement Basement
membrane membrane
Connective Connective
tissue tissue

Figure 5.2 (continued) Epithelial tissues. Simple epithelia (c and d).

See also Plate 1 of the Histology Atlas to view simple columnar epithelium.

Copyright © 2018 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Classification of Tissues 47

(e) Stratified squamous epithelium (f) Transitional epithelium

Description: Thick Description: Basal cells cuboidal or

membrane composed of columnar; surface cells dome-
several cell layers; basal shaped or squamouslike,
cells are cuboidal or depending on how much the
columnar; cells at the apical organ is stretched.
surface are flattened
(squamous); in the keratinized
type, the surface cells are full
of keratin and dead; basal cells 5
are active in mitosis and
produce the cells of the more
superficial layers.

Location: Nonkeratinized type Location: Lines the ureters,

forms the moist linings of urinary bladder, and part of the
the esophagus, mouth, and urethra.
vagina; keratinized variety
forms the epidermis of the
skin, a dry membrane.

Function: Protects underlying tissues in areas subjected to Function: Stretches readily and permits distension of urinary
abrasion. organ by stored urine.

Photomicrograph: Transitional epithelium lining

Photomicrograph: Stratified squamous epithelium the bladder, relaxed state (360:); note the bulbous, or
lining the esophagus (285:). rounded, appearance of the cells at the surface;
these cells flatten and become elongated when
the bladder is filled with urine.

Stratified
squamous
Nuclei epithelium

Basement Transitional
Basement
membrane epithelium
membrane
Connective
Connective
tissue
tissue

Figure 5.2 (continued) Stratified epithelia (e and f).

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56 Review Sheet 5

It allows the structure where the transitional

How does this structural difference reflect its function in the body? ______________________________________________
epithelium is located to stretch.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Use the key choices to respond to the following. (Some choices may be used more than once.)
Key: pseudostratified ciliated columnar simple cuboidal stratified squamous
simple columnar simple squamous transitional
stratified squamous
1. best suited for areas subject to friction

pseudostratified ciliated columnar 2. propels substances across its surface

simple squamous 3. most suited for rapid diffusion

simple cubodial 4. tubules of the kidney

pseudostratified ciliated columnar

5. lines much of the respiratory tract

transitional 6. stretches

simple columnar
7. lines the small and large intestines

stratified squamous 8. lining of the esophagus

transitional 9. lining of the bladder

simple squamous 10. alveolar sacs (air sacs) of the lungs

Connective Tissue
The matrix contains extracellular components
8. What are the components of the matrix in connective tissues? __________________________________________________
composed of ground substance (glycoproteins and large polysaccharide molecules) and fibers.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The matrix provides the tissue with strength
9. How are the functions of connective tissue reflected in its structure? _____________________________________________
that allows for protection and support. The matrix also enables the tissue to bind other tissues together.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Using the key, choose the best response to identify the connective tissues described below.

Key: adipose connective tissue reticular connective tissue fibrocartilage

areolar connective tissue hyaline cartilage blood
dense fibrous connective tissue osseous tissue

dense fibrous connective tissue 1. attaches bones to bones and muscles to bones

osseous tissue 2. forms your hip bone

areolar connective tissue 3. composes basement membranes; a soft packaging tissue with a jellylike matrix

hyaline cartilage 4. forms the larynx and the costal cartilages of the ribs

hyaline cartilage 5. firm matrix heavily invaded with fibers; appears glassy and smooth

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 Review Sheet 5 57

osseous tissue 6. matrix hard; provides levers for muscles to act on

adipose connective tissue 7. insulates against heat loss; provides reserve fuel

fibrocartilage 8. makes up the intervertebral discs

Muscle Tissue
11. The terms and phrases in the key relate to the muscle tissues. For each of the three muscle tissues, select the terms
or phrases that characterize it, and write the corresponding letter of each term on the answer line.

Key: a. striated f. voluntary k. attached to bones

b. branching cells g. involuntary l. intercalated discs
c. spindle-shaped cells h. one nucleus m. in wall of bladder and stomach
d. cylindrical cells i. many nuclei n. moves limbs, produces smiles
e. active during birth j. forms heart walls o. arranged in sheets

a, d, f, i, k, n
Skeletal muscle: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
a, b, g, h, j, l
Cardiac muscle: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
c, e, g, h, m, o
Smooth muscle: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Nervous Tissue
12. In what ways are neurons similar to other cells? Contains a nucleus and cytoplasm.
_______________________________________________________________

How are they different? The cytoskeleton a part of the cytoplasm is arranged differently to create long extensions
or cell processes.
How does the special structure of a neuron relate to its function? Allows the neuron to receive impulse and to
conduct or send that impulse over relatively long distances.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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58 Review Sheet 5

For Review
13. Write the name of each tissue type in illustrations (a) through (l), and label all major structures marked by leader lines
and brackets.

Connective
Cilia
tissue

Columnar
cell

Pseudost-
ratified Basement
cells membrane

Basement Connective
membrane tissue
(a) Simple columnar epithelium (b) Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Basement
membrane
Connective
tissue
(c) Stratified squamous epithelium (d) Transitional epithelium

Elastic fiber

Collagen
fibers Nucleus

Fibroblasts
Collagen
fiber

(e) Areolar connective tissue (f) Dense connective tissue

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 Review Sheet 5 59

Matrix

Osteocyte in Chondrocytes
lacunae

Central canal

Lacunae

(g) Bone (osseous tissue) (h) Hyaline cartilage

Nuclei of
adipocytes Nuclei
Vacuole
containing
fat droplets Smooth
muscle
cell

(i) Adipose (j) Smooth muscle

Nuclei Intercalated
discs

Muscle fiber Nucleus

(k) Skeletal muscle (l) Cardiac muscle

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