3.2 - Lab - Epithelia/Cell Morphology

Question 1

Eccrine Sweat Gland

Answer 1

Duct of gland = stratified cuboidal

Secretory portion of gland = simple columnar

Question 2

Squamous cell

Answer 2

• relatively metabolically inactive - especially if the nucleus is heterochromatic
• has a flat nucleus

Question 3

Columnar Cell

Answer 3

• Secretory/absorptive functions (stored products take up space - usually can be seen apically)
• nucleus has significant cytoplasmic space surrounding it

Question 4

Cuboidal Cell

Answer 4

• Significant metabolic activity
• usually only nucleus can be seen
• round nucleus occupying most of the volume
• stratified cuboidal epithelia (have all layers of the same shape, and normally only has two layers)

Question 5

Respiratory Epithelium

Answer 5

• conducting portions of the respiratory epithelium are classed as pseudo stratified
• i.e. nasal cavity, trachea, bronchus

Question 6

Transitional Epithelium

Answer 6

• designed for rapid stretching + contraction
• lines urinary spaces that are exposed to urine (ureter, bladder)
• also called urinary epithelium

Question 7

Describe the layers of the urinary epithelium

Answer 7

• Basal most cells - contact the basement membrane
• next, are intermediate cells
• apical layer - consists of umbrella cells

Question 8

What are umbrella cells?

Answer 8

• cells specialized for the confining of urine (or pathologically present molecules) to the lumen
• apical layer of the transitional/urinary epithelium
• may appear multinucleated
• dome shaped cells
• may contain visible vesicles (that might FXN to help the cells expand and shrink as necessary)

Question 9

Metaplasia

Answer 9

transformation of one epithelial type into another

Question 10

hyperplasia

Answer 10

abnormal proliferation of cells