Classification

Epitheliums can be classified on appearance or on function

Classification based on appearance

- Simple - one layer of cells

- Pseudostratified - looks like more than one layer but is not

- Stratified - more than one layer of cells

Simple epitheliums

Simple squamous epithelium

 Cells are flat with bulging or flat nuclei.  Lines the insides of lung alveoli and certain ducts in the kidney

 Forms serous membranes called mesothelium that line cavities like: pericardial ,  peritoneal,  plural

 Lines blood vessels - known as endothelium

Simple cuboidal epithelium

It appears square in cross section,  Found in: - Ducts of salivary glands,  Follicles of the thyroid gland,  Pigment layer in the eye,  Collecting ducts of the kidney, In the middle ear is ciliated type.

Simple columnar

• Lines the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the anal canal,  Some columnar cells have a  secretory function – stomach, peg cells in the oviduct,  Some columnar cells have microvilli on their free border (striated border) – gall bladder, duodenum
• Microvilli increase the surface area for absorption
• Some columnar cells have cilia – oviduct, smaller bronchi
• Cilia transport particles

Pseudostratified

Appears as stratified epithelium but all cells are in contact with the basement membrane.  Has a thick basement membrane. Different cell types make up this epithelium,  Cells that can be found in this type of epithelium are:

• Columnar cells with cilia or microvilli.
• Basal cells that do not reach the surface.
• Goblet cells that secrete mucous.
• Found in the trachea, epididymus, ductus deferens and female urethra

Stratified epithelium

Classified according to the shape of the surface cells

Stratified squamous epithelium

Has a basal layer that varies from cuboidal to columnar cells that divide to form new cells. Two types are found:

Keratinized:  Mostly forms a dry covering, The middle layers consists of cells that are forming- and filling up with keratin. The superficial cells form a tough non living layer of keratin,  Keratin is a type of protein,  The skin is of this type has  thick skin - found on the hand palms and soles of the feet,  thin skin - found on the rest of the body

Non-keratinized:  Top layer of cells are living cells with nuclei  Forms a wet covering,  The middle layers are polyhedral,  The surface layer consists of flat squamous cells

• Is found in:  mouth,  oesophagus,  vagina

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Found: - in the ducts of sweat glands

Stratified columnar epithelium

Found at the back of the eyelid (conjunctiva)

Transitional epithelium

- Sometimes the surface cells are squamous, sometimes cuboidal and sometimes columnar

- The superficial cells are called umbrella cells because they can open and close like umbrellas, when the epithelium stretch and shrink

- Umbrella cells can have 2 nuclei

- Found in the bladder and ureter

The Hard Palate

• The anterior bony part of the palate is formed by the palatine process of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

• Anteriorly and laterally, the hard palate is bounded by the alveolar processes and the gingivae.
• Posteriorly, the hard palate is continuous with the soft palate.

• The incisive foramen is the mouth of the incisive canal.
• This foramen is located posterior to the maxillary central incisor teeth.
• This foramen is the common opening for the right and left incisive canals.
• The incisive canal and foramen transmit the nasopalatine nerve and the terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery.

• Medial to the third molar tooth, the greater palatine foramen pierces the lateral border of the bony palate.
• The greater palatine vessels and nerve emerge from this foramen and run anteriorly into two grooves on the palate.

• The lesser palatine foramen transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels.
• This runs to the soft palate and adjacent structures.

Connective Tissue

Functions of Connective tissue:

→ joins together other tissues

→ supporting framework for the body (bone)

→ fat stores energy

→ blood transports substances

Connective tissue is usually characterized by large amounts of extracellular materials that separate cells from each other, whereas epithelial tissue is mostly cells with very little extracellular material. The extracellular substance of connective tissue consists of protein fibers which are embedded in ground substance containing tissue fluid.

Fibers in connective tissue can be divided into three types:

→ Collagen fibers are the most abundant protein fibers in the body.

→ Elastic fibers are made of elastin and have the ability to recoil to original shape.

→ Reticular fibers are very fine collagen fibers that join connective tissues to other tissues.

Connective tissue cells are named according to their functions:

 → Blast cells produce the matrix of connective tissues

→ Cyte cells maintains the matrix of connective tissues

→ Clast cells breaks down the matrix for remodeling (found in bone)

The Nasal Mucosa

• Mucosa lines the entire nasal cavities except for the vestibule of the nose.
• The nasal mucosa is firmly bound to the periosteum and perichondrium of the supporting structures of the nose.
• It is continuous with the adjoining cavities to which the nasal cavity communicates (e.g., the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses).

• The inferior 2/3 of the nasal mucosa is called the respiratory area and air passing over this is warmed and moistened before it passes into the lungs.
• The superior 1/3 is called the olfactory area.

The Olfactory Area of Nasal Mucosa

• This area contains the peripheral organ of smell.
• Sniffing draws air into this area
• Olfactory receptor cells (from the olfactory nerve, CN I, are located in the mucosa of this area in the nose.

Nerves to the Respiratory Area of Nasal Mucosa

• The inferior 2/3 of the nasal mucosa are supplied chiefly by the trigeminal nerve (CN V).

• The mucous membrane of the nasal septum is supplied chiefly by the nasopalatine nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V²).
• Its anterior portion is supplied by the anterior ethmoidal nerve (a branch of the nasociliary nerve) which is derived from the ophthalmic nerve (CN V¹).

• The lateral walls of the nasal cavity are supplied by branches of the maxillary nerve (CN V²); the greater palatine nerve, and the anterior ethmoidal nerve.

Arteries of the Nasal Mucosa

• The blood supply of the mucosa of the nasal septum is derived mainly from the maxillary artery.

• The sphenopalatine artery, a branch of the maxillary, supplies most of the blood of the nasal mucosa.
• It enters by the sphenopalatine foramen and sends branches to the posterior regions of the lateral wall and to the nasal septum.

• The greater palatine artery, also a branch of the maxillary, passes through the incisive foramen to supply the nasal septum.

• The anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries, branches of the ophthalmic artery, supply the anterosuperior part of the mucosa of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and nasal septum.

• Three branches of the facial artery (superior labial, ascending palatine, and lateral nasal) also supply the anterior parts of the nasal mucosa.

Veins of the Nasal Mucosa

• The veins of the nasal mucosa form a venous network of plexus in the connective tissue of the nasal mucosa.
• Some of the veins open into the sphenopalatine vein and drain to the pterygoid plexus.
• Others join the facial and infraorbital veins.
• Some empty into the ophthalmic veins and drain into the cavernous sinus.

Walls of the Tympanic Cavity or Middle Ear

• This cavity is shaped like a narrow six-sided box that has convex medial and lateral walls.
• It has the shape of the biconcave lens in cross-section (like a red blood cell).

The Roof or Tegmental Wall

• This is formed by a thin plate of bone, called the tegmen tympani (L. tegmen, roof).
• It separates the tympanic cavity from the dura on the floor of middle cranial fossa.
• The tegmen tympani also covers the aditus ad antrum.

The Floor or Jugular Wall

• This wall is thicker than the roof.
• It separates the tympanic cavity from the superior bulb of the internal jugular vein. The internal jugular vein and the internal carotid artery diverge at the floor of the tympanic cavity.

• The tympanic nerve, a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), passes through an aperture in the floor of the tympanic cavity and its branches form the tympanic plexus.

The Lateral or Membranous Wall

• This is formed almost entirely by the tympanic membrane.
• Superiorly it is formed by the lateral bony wall of the epitympanic recess.
• The handle of the malleus is incorporated in the tympanic membrane, and its head extends into the epitympanic recess.

The Medial or Labyrinthine Wall

• This separates the middle ear from the membranous labyrinth (semicircular ducts and cochlear duct) encased in the bony labyrinth.
• The medial wall of the tympanic cavity exhibits several important features.

• Centrally, opposite the tympanic membrane, there is a rounded promontory (L. eminence) formed by the first turn of the cochlea.
• The tympanic plexus of nerves, lying on the promontory, is formed by fibres of the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves.

• The medial wall of the tympanic cavity also has two small apertures or windows.

• The fenestra vestibuli (oval window) is closed by the base of the stapes, which is bound to its margins by an annular ligament.
• Through this window, vibrations of the stapes are transmitted to the perilymph window within the bony labyrinth of the inner ear.

• The fenestra cochleae (round window) is inferior to the fenestra vestibuli.
• This is closed by a second tympanic membrane.

The Posterior or Mastoid Wall

• This wall has several openings in it.
• In its superior part is the aditus ad antrum (mastoid antrum), which leads posteriorly from the epitympanic recess to the mastoid cells.

• Inferiorly is a pinpoint aperture on the apex of a tiny, hollow projection of bone, called the pyramidal eminence (pyramid).
• This eminence contains the stapedius muscle.
• Its aperture transmits the tendon of the stapedius, which enters the tympanic cavity and inserts into the stapes.

• Lateral to the pyramid, there is an aperture through which the chorda tympani nerve, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII), enters the tympanic cavity.

The Anterior Wall or Carotid Wall

• This wall is a narrow as the medial and lateral walls converge anteriorly.
• There are two openings in the anterior wall.

• The superior opening communicates with a canal occupied by the tensor tympani muscle.
• Its tendon inserts into the handle of the malleus and keeps the tympanic membrane tense.

• Inferiorly, the tympanic cavity communicates with the nasopharynx through the auditory tube.

Muscles Around the Nose

The Nasalis Muscle

• This muscle consists of a transverse (compressor naris) and alar (dilator naris) parts.
• It is supplied by the buccal branch of the facial nerve.