Glands Flashcards
Gland definition
An epithelial cell or an aggregate of epithelial cells that are specialised for the secretion of a substance.
Secretion definition
The production and release of materials by a cell or aggregate of cells.
Two types of gland
Endocrine (ductless)
Exocrine (ducted)
Endocrine glands
Secrete directly into the blood flowing through them, to let the secretions function at distant parts of the body - secretions are hormones.
Eg pituitary gland
All epithelial cells in the gland secrete the hormone.
Exocrine glands
Secrete into a location/region of the body through a duct; their secretions are mostly enzymes or lubricants.
Eg salivary gland, mammary glands, sweat glands
Only cells at apex of duct secrete the products.
Endocrine gland - histology
Blood vessels close by
Hormone producing epithelial cells
Larger lumen
Exocrine gland - histology
Stratified cuboidal cells
Two layers of cells
Lumen of duct
Adenogenesis
Gland development in utero
1. Growth signal received
2. Proliferation of cells occurs and extracellular protein degradation enzymes produced
3. Epithelial cells invade space created
=> exocrine gland - central cells die off to produce duct (canalicularisation); link to mother cells remains; significant amount of branching
=> endocrine glands - produce angiogenic factors to stimulate blood vessel growth in and around epithelial cells; link to mother cells broken through apoptosis; virtually no branching
How does branching occur?
FGF10 released by immature fibroblasts.
Epithelial cells move towards signal.
Causes:
1 - tubule elongation (growth factor 1 active; growth factor 2 inactive)
2 - tubule branching (growth factor 1 inactive; growth factor 2 active)
Elongation and branching stopped by Shh.
Simple tubular duct structure
Duct does not branch
a) simple tubular - intestinal glands
b) simple branched tubular - gastric glands
Cuboidal epithelial cells
Alveolar secretory duct structure
Duct does not branch
a) simple alveolar - no examples in adult humans, some in foetus
b) simple branched alveolar - sebaceous glands (only found where there is hair)
Compound tubular duct structure
Duct branches
a) compound tubular - duodenal glands of small intestine
Epithelial cells with muscle so as to contract
Compound alveolar secretory duct structure
Duct branches
a) compound alveolar - mammary glands
b) compound tubuloalveloar - salivary glands
Epithelial cells with muscle so as to contract
Stages of growth and development of glands
Prebud
Initial bud
Pseudoglandular
Canalicular
Terminal bud
Two types of secretion
Mucous
Serous
Interlobular duct
Located between lobules,
Intercalated duct
Between acinus and striated duct.
Myoepithelial cells
Cells that have features of both an epithelial cell and a smooth muscle cell - help to eject secretions from the duct.
Merocrine gland
Fusion of vesicles with apical membrane - a form of exocytosis
Apocrine gland
Partial loss of cytoplasm eg lactating mammary gland.
Holocrine gland
Complete loss of cytoplasm eg sebaceous gland in skin.
Cytocrine gland
Cells are released as a secretion eg spermatid