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Histology > Lesson 2: Glandular Epithelia/ Exocrine glands > Flashcards

Lesson 2: Glandular Epithelia/ Exocrine glands Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of glandular epithelia?

A

To produce and release secretions via exocytosis, including precious products, not metabolic wastes.

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2
Q

What are the two types of glandular epithelia?

A

Exocrine glands (secretion via ducts) and endocrine glands (secretion into the bloodstream).

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3
Q

What are the six principles of exocrine gland classification?

A

Number of cells, site, shape of the terminal secretory unit, branching of ducts, mode of secretion, and nature of secretion.

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4
Q

What is an example of a unicellular exocrine gland?

A

Goblet cells - columnar epithelial cells

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5
Q

Where are goblet cells commonly found?

A

Respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, conjunctiva of the eye, and reproductive tracts.

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6
Q

What do goblet cells secrete?

A

Mucins, which hydrate to form mucus.

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7
Q

What is the role of the cup-like apical surface of goblet cells?

A

It stores mucin granules for secretion.

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8
Q

What distinguishes multicellular exocrine glands from unicellular glands?

A

Multicellular glands consist of secreting cells (adenomeres) connected to ducts.

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9
Q

What are intramural glands?

A

Glands located within epithelial tissue.

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10
Q

What are extramural glands?

A

Glands that form distinct organs, like the pancreas and salivary glands.

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11
Q

What are the three shapes of secretory units?

A

Tubular, alveolar (acinar), and tubuloalveolar.

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12
Q

What is a tubular gland?

A

A gland with a tube-shaped secretory unit.

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13
Q

What is an alveolar gland?

A

A gland with a round or sac-like secretory unit.

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14
Q

What are simple glands?

A

Glands with unbranched ducts.

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15
Q

What are compound glands?

A

Glands with branched ducts.

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16
Q

What is the difference between a simple gland and a simple branched gland?

A

Simple glands have one secretory unit, while simple branched glands have multiple secretory units connected to a single duct.

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17
Q

What are glands/secreting epithelia?

A

cells tightly apposed forming aggregates with different morphology

Molecules to be secreted can be stored in membrane-bound secretory granules (vesicles)

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18
Q

What are the three modes of secretion?

A

Merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine.

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19
Q

What characterizes merocrine secretion?

A

Secretory products are released via exocytosis without loss of cellular material.

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20
Q

Name examples of merocrine glands.

A

Salivary glands, pancreas, gastric glands, intestinal glands, lacrimal glands.

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21
Q

What characterizes apocrine secretion?

A

Secretions are released along with a portion of the apical cytoplasm.

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22
Q

Name examples of apocrine glands.

A

Mammary glands and some sweat glands.

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23
Q

What characterizes holocrine secretion?

A

The entire cell disintegrates to release its content.

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24
Q

Name an example of a holocrine gland.

A

Sebaceous glands.

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25
Q

What are the three types of secretions?

A

Serous, mucous, and mixed.

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26
Q

What are serous secretions?

A

Watery, enzyme-rich secretions.

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27
Q

What are mucous secretions?

A

Thick, viscous secretions rich in mucins.

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28
Q

What are mixed secretions?

A

A combination of serous and mucous secretions.

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29
Q

Give an example of a mixed gland.

A

Submandibular salivary gland.

30
Q

What is the function of myoepithelial cells?

A

To contract and help expel secretions from glandular acini.

31
Q

Where are myoepithelial cells found?

A

Surrounding the secretory units of glands like salivary glands and mammary glands.

32
Q

What type of gland is the exocrine pancreas?

A

A compound tubuloacinar gland composed of serous secretory cells.

33
Q

What does the exocrine pancreas secrete?

A

Digestive enzymes.

34
Q

What are the smallest ducts in the exocrine pancreas called?

A

Intercalated ducts.

35
Q

What is the major excretory duct of the pancreas?

A

The Wirsung duct.

36
Q

Name a gland with simple tubular structure.

A

Crypts of Lieberkühn in the intestine.

37
Q

Name a gland with simple acinar structure.

A

Small sebaceous glands.

38
Q

Name a gland with compound alveolar structure.

A

Mammary glands.

39
Q

Name a gland with compound tubuloacinar structure.

A

Parotid salivary glands.

40
Q

What happens in cystic fibrosis in relation to exocrine glands?

A

Thickened secretions block ducts, particularly in the pancreas and respiratory tract.

41
Q

How does a blockage in the Wirsung duct affect digestion?

A

It impairs the release of digestive enzymes, leading to malabsorption.

42
Q

What feature distinguishes serous cells histologically?

A

Round nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm.

43
Q

How are mucous cells distinguished histologically?

A

Flattened nuclei pushed to the base by mucinogen granules.

44
Q

What is the role of basal infoldings in striated ducts?

A

They increase the surface area for ion transport.

45
Q

What organelles are prominent in goblet cells and why?

A

Golgi apparatus for processing mucins and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) for protein synthesis.

46
Q

What happens to mucinogen granules in goblet cells during secretion?

A

They are hydrated upon exocytosis to form mucus.

47
Q

How do goblet cells contribute to the respiratory system?

A

By trapping particles and microorganisms in mucus to protect the airway lining.

48
Q

What is the function of ducts in multicellular glands?

A

To transport and modify secretions before delivery to target sites.

49
Q

How are secretory units and ducts arranged in compound glands?

A

Secretory units form lobules, which drain into intralobular ducts, then interlobular ducts, and finally into major excretory ducts.

50
Q

What distinguishes intralobular ducts from interlobular ducts histologically?

A

Intralobular ducts are smaller and often lined with simple cuboidal epithelium, while interlobular ducts have larger lumens and may have columnar epithelium.

51
Q

Why are serous secretions watery?

A

They are rich in enzymes and have low mucin content.

52
Q

What is the role of mucous secretions in the gastrointestinal tract?

A

To lubricate and protect the lining from digestive enzymes and acids.

53
Q

How are mixed glands structured to produce both serous and mucous secretions?

A

They have separate serous and mucous cells, often with serous demilunes capping mucous tubules.

54
Q

What is the function of striated ducts in salivary glands?

A

To modify electrolyte concentrations in saliva by active ion transport.

55
Q

Why are mitochondria abundant in the basal infoldings of striated ducts?

A

To provide energy for ion transport mechanisms.

56
Q

What enzymes are produced by the exocrine pancreas?

A

Proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin), amylase, and lipase.

57
Q

What are centroacinar cells in the pancreas?

A

Cells located in the center of the acini that contribute to ductal secretion.

58
Q

What is the role of the intercalated ducts in the pancreas?

A

To secrete bicarbonate and water, neutralizing stomach acid in the duodenum.

59
Q

How is the pancreas protected from self-digestion?

A

Digestive enzymes are stored as inactive zymogens and activated only in the duodenum by enterokinases.

60
Q

What is the functional advantage of a branched duct system in compound glands?

A

It allows the collection and delivery of secretions from multiple lobules

61
Q

Name the major types of compound glands and examples.

A

Compound tubuloalveolar (mammary gland), compound acinar (pancreas), compound tubular (cardiac glands).

62
Q

How are lobes and lobules separated in compound glands?

A

By connective tissue septa containing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.

63
Q

What proteins are found in myoepithelial cells, enabling contraction?

A

Actin, myosin, and cytokeratin.

64
Q

Why are myoepithelial cells considered epithelial in origin despite their contractile function?

A

They arise from epithelial precursors and retain epithelial characteristics.

65
Q

What are the two main functional components of the pancreas?

A

The exocrine portion (producing digestive enzymes) and the endocrine portion (islets of Langerhans).

66
Q

What is the structural unit of the exocrine pancreas?

A

The acinus, which is a blind sac of secretory cells.

67
Q

What are intercalated ducts, and what is their role?

A

Small ducts that connect the lumen of acini to larger ducts, secreting bicarbonate and water.

68
Q

How does the duct system branch in the pancreas?

A

Intercalated ducts → Intralobular ducts → Interlobular ducts → Major pancreatic duct.

69
Q

What type of epithelium lines the ducts of the exocrine pancreas?

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium in intercalated ducts and simple columnar epithelium in larger ducts.

70
Q

How do pancreatic secretions aid digestion?

A

Enzymes break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, while bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid.

71
Q

What happens in acute pancreatitis?

A

Premature activation of zymogens causes autodigestion of pancreatic tissue.

Histology (4 decks)

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