TOB L4 Flashcards
Describe the classification of glands
DESTINATION OF SECRETION:
exocrine - via duct (into ductal system)
endocrine - ductless, into blood (directly into blood)
METHOD OF SECRETION
merocrine/eccrine (most glands) - producing a secretion that does not contain cellular componens and is discharged without major damage to secreting cell
apocrine (mammary glands)
holocrine - disintegration of entire glandular cell in releasing its products (sebaceous glands) - glands found in hair follicles, secrete sebum]
NATURE OF SECRETION
(serous/mucous)
ORGANISATION / STRUCTURE
simple or compound
Describe the process of merocrine secretion
- Contents released from golgi in a membrane-bounded secretory vesicle
- Fusion with vesicle + plasma membrane
- Release of non-membrane-bound contents into extracellular space
Histology showing how glands can be classified by structure
left: simple
right: compound
Describe how glands can be classified by structure
- SECRETORY PART: can be unicellular/mulkticellular
- ACINAR (small cavity in gland): COILED / TUBULAR / BRANCHED
- DUCT SYSTEM: simple gland (single duct)
compound gland (branched ducts)
Give an example of a unicellular gland
- Goblet cells
Descibe the structure and function of goblet cells
Unicellular glands
Cells contain large golgi apparatus: add carbs to newly synthesised proteins to create mucin
Mucins released from cell, hydrated to produce mucus
How are mucins detected detected by PAS staining?
Mucins: hydrophillic, washed away during histological preperation, however, residual oligosachharides detected by PAS staining
Histology of goblet cells in upper respiratory epithelium
Histology of goblet cells in ileum
Describe the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis
Autosomal recessive disorder (you need to inherit both genes from each parent)
due to mutation to CTFR gene which codes for cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (Cl- channel)
In CF, this channel is destroyed before reaching apical membrane
Decreases Cl- secretion
This increases intracellular Na+ and water reabsorption from lumen
Secreted mucus not adequately hydrated
So, its more difficult to move to the oropharynx for swallong
This leads to obstruction + infection
Define the term systemic
Affects entire system
Describe the effects of cystic fibrosis
Systemic:
LUNGS: Recurrent respiratory infections
PANCREAS: Blockage of ducts, leads to chronic pancreatits
GI tract: Reflux, difficulty passing stools (meconium ileus - inability to pass 1st faeces in newborns)
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: Failure of development of vas deferens leading to infertility
SKIN: salty sweat
State a method of confirming the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis
Testing for abnormally salty sweat
Absence of CTFR gene in apical membrane of epithelial cells
Poor absorptionof Cl- ions
This suppresses Na+ rearbsorption
How do we classify multicellular glands as simple?
DUCTS DO NOT BRANCH
(ducts - invaginations of epithelium, specialised for secretion)
State types and examples of simple multicellular glands
- SIMPLE TUBULAR: mucous glands of the colon (crypts of lieberkuhn)
- SIMPLE BRANCHED TUBULAR: glands of uterus + stomach
- SIMPLE COILED TUBULAR: SWEAT GLANDS
- SIMPLE ACINAR: SMALL MUCOUS GLANDS IN URETHRA
- SIMPLE BRANCHED ACINAR: SEBACEOUS GLANDS
on the diagram, pay attention to
- duct
- secretory portion
State an example of a simple tubular gland
Crypts of lieberkuhun
- Simple, straight, unbranched tubular glands
- Crypts lined with enterocytes + goblet cells
- Major function of colon is reabsorption of water + electrolytes + formation and passage of faeces
State an example of a simple coiled tubular gland
Sweat glands
- Secretory portions surrounded by contractile myoepithelial cells
- Contraction is under control of sympathetic nervous system
- Their contraction transports luminal contents towards ducts
- Ducts are lined with stratified cuboidal epithelium
Pay attention to adipose tissue (fat droplets) in histology, become more abundant with age
State an example of a simple branched acinar gland
Acinar - a group of berry like cells
Sebaceous glands
- Oily seubum released by lobes of acinar via single duct onto hair
- This is done by holocrine secretion, under control of androgens
- Sebaceous glands found wherever you have hair
- Found in skin, usually attached to hair follicles
HISTOLOGY IS SCALP
How do we classify complex glands
Ducts branch
State types of complex glands
- COMPUND TUBULAR: glands of brunner in duodenum (Brunner’s glands)
- COMPOUND ACINAR: Exocrine pancreas
- COMPOUND TUBULOACINAR: Salivary glands, mammary glands
Describe the duct system in a typical complex gland
What is the secreting portion? Acinus
What is the conducting portion? Duct
State an example of a complex acinar gland
EXOCRINE PANCREAS
The simple squamous epithelium of intercalated ducts penetrates acini in pancreas
Explain why cystic fifibrosis was previously known as fibrocystic disease of the pancreas
- Exocrine secretions contain too little water.
- They become thickened + block ducts
- The exocrine pancreas becomes painfully inflamed (pancreatitis) and fibrotic
- The gut recieves insufficient pancreatic digestive enztmes and malabsorption results
Why are cystic fibrosis patients often malnourished?
Gut recieves insufficient pancreatic digestive enzymes
Certain molecules such as proteins + fats cannot be broken down + absorbed into bloodstream
Symptoms of insufficient secretions of pancreatic digestive enzymes appear in the first year of life in 90% of cases
Insufficient lipase production results in faecal excretion of undigested fat, as diarrhea
The endocrine pancreas (islets of Langerhans) detoriarte more slowly, as no exocrine ducts
Describe the classification of glands by nature of secretion
MUCOUS GLANDS - secretions contain mucus, rich in mucins (highly glycosylated polypeptides). Stain poorly in H&E sections - mucous is water soluble, so stains lighter with H&E
SEROUS GLANDS - watery secretions (often containing enzymes). Eosinophilic (pink) in H&R sections
serous glands have granules - eosinphilic hence stain very strongly with H&E
State an example of a complex tuboloacinar gland
Major salivary glands
State the function and position of major salivary glands
Major / extrinsic salivary glands produce saliva
Lie outside oral cavity, empty their secretions into it
State the function and the position of the minor / intrinsic salivary glands
Example: Buccal glands
Scattered throughour oral cavity mucosa
Adjust output
State the major salivary glands
- Parotid
- Submandibular
- Sublingual
Describe the structrure and function of the parotid gland
- Has serous acini producing alpjha-amylase
- Ingestion of food stimulates release of saliva via parasympathetic innervation
- Strong sympathetic innervation leads to dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Parotid gland has striated ducts - important in Na+ reabsorption
Describe the structure and function of the submandibular gland
- Has serous acini producing alpjha-amylase
- In submandibular gland, the serous acini cells also produce lysozyme
- Lysozyme gives saliva its antimicrobial properties
Describe the structure and function of the sublingual gland
Contains mainly mucous acini
Describe the structure and function of the mammary glands
Type of tubuloacinar gland
Myoepithelial cells help secrete milk from acini
Contraction of myoepithelial cells under control of hormone oxytocin is experienced as “let down”
During lactation, after activation by prolactin, ducts become more developed
Histology showing difference between inactive and active mammary gland
We can see the ducts becoming more developed
Describe how mammary glands secrete
Via apocrine secretion
- Non membrane bound lipids push through the plasmalemma, covering dropleys with membrane and a thin layer of apical cytoplasm
- The membrane becomes transiently smaller and requires the addition of an extra membrane, to compensate for the lost membrane. This is done bia SER which synthesises lipids
- Other milk constituents including lactose, proteins and minerals are released by merocrine secretion
IT IS ONLY THE LIPIDS THAT ARE RELEASED VIA APOCRINE SECRETION