Session 5 - Glands Flashcards
Define a gland
An epithelial cell or an aggregation of epithelial cells that are specialised in the secretion of a substance
How do you classify different types of glandular tissue?
1) Where the products are secreted: Endocrine or exocrine
2) What the mode of secretion is: Merocrine, Apocrine or Holocrine
Explain the differences between endocrine and exocrine glands
Endocrine glands secretes hormones directly into the blood. Exocrine glands secrete their products into a location via a duct
Define Merocrine secretion and give an example
Secretion through exocytosis. Fusion of vesicles with apical surface (insulin)
Define Apocrine secretion
The partial loss of cytoplasm due to the non-membrane bound compounds gathering at the apical surface and as such pushing on it (mammory glands)
Define Holocrine secretion
The complete loss of the cytoplasm or cell (sebaceous glands)
Define Cytocrine secretion
Cell released as secretion (spematid)
Describe how glands are formed
1) Growth signal received (FGF growth factor)
2) Proliferation of cells occurs and extracellular protein degradation enzymes are released
3) Epithelial cells invade space created
a) 4) Exocrine gland - Central cells die of to produce duct (canaliculisation). 2 Cell types produced: glandular and ductal
b) 4) Endocrine gland - Produce angiogenic factors to stimulate blood vessel growth in and around the epithelial cells
b) 5) Endocrine gland - Link to surface is broken through apoptosis
How does branching of glands occur during development?
1) tubule elongation (growth factor 1 active, 2 not)
2) tubule branching (growth factor 2 active, 1 not)
Name all 8 types of exocrine ductal morphology and give an example of each.
Simple tubular - Intestinal glands
Simple coiled tubular - sweat glands
Simple branched tubular - Gastric glands
Simple alveolar - Not common, one in end of penis
Simple branched alveolar - sebaceous glands
Compound tubular - duodenal glands of small intestine
Compound alveolar - Mammary glands
Compound tubuloalveolar glands - Salivary glands
What is a myoepithelial cell and what is their role?
Cells that feature features of both an epithelial cell and a smooth muscle cell
They help to eject secretions from the duct (by squeezing the top section)
What order do the ducts follow?
Acinus - where the product is secreted
1) Intercolated Duct
2) Striated Duct - Reabsorbs Na+ ions
3) Excretory Duct - sometimes has smooth muscle around it
4) Collecting Duct - not very common normally excretory duct is last
Explain the development of the breast
1) initial development the same as the salivary but stops until puberty
2) Puberty - oestrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries restarts breast development
oestrogen - ductal elongation
progesterone - side branching
3) during pregnancy prolactin stimulates the production of breast secretions (colostrum and milk)
prolactin - Alveologenesis and lactogenic differentiation
What are the two modes of merocrine secretion?
Regulated - secretory granules accumulate and are released upon stimulation
Constitutive - continuously released. Vesicles often have plasma proteins associated to them to repopulate the cell membrane
Describe in detail the process of regulated merocrine secretion.
This is an active process
1) vesicles are packaged with contents
2) active secretion requires specific signal (Ca2+ ions)
3) Vesicle migrates to the cell surface along microtubules (this uses energy hense why it is an active process)
4) In the presence of Ca2+ ion, membrane of vesicles fuses with plasmalemma
5) contents released into the intercellular space
Define Glycosylation
The covalent attachment of a sugar to a protein or lipid by an enzyme. This usually occurs in the Golgi apparatus
What is the difference between phagocytosis and pinocytosis?
Phagocytosis is where cells engulf other cells or particles where as pinocytosis is the process where liquid droplets are ingested by cells. (they are both forms of endocytosis)
Name the 4 types of trans-epithelial transport.
1) paracellular - transport via aqueous channels between cells via tight junctions
2) transcellular- transport of lipid soluble molecules that pass through the membranes
3) Carrier proteins into and out of the cell
4) Endocytosis and then exocytosis
what are the 4 types of glandular control?
Humoral control - feedback loop though endocrine system
Nervous control - via innervation of nerves
Hormonal control - Hormonal secretions
Neurocrine control - eg: hypothalamus and pituitary. Neurotransmitter enters the blood stream and then travel to stimulate target cell
Why is PTH essential to life but calcitonin isn’t?
PTH is essential as it regulates the concentrations of Vitamin D for calcium absorption from the diet. If this wasn’t present I.E. no Parathyroid gland then we wouldn’t be able to absorb Calcium. Calcitonin only reduces calcium levels so is important to prevent seizures but not essential
Name the 5 major endocrine glands and tissues
Pituitary (anterior and posterior) Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Glands Pancreas