Histology of the

Digestive System
Histology of the Digestive
System

By: Amsalu
 Histology of the Digestive tract
Wall of most of digestive tract
consists of 4 major layers:
1. Mucosa
a. Epithelium
b. Lamina Propria
c. Muscularis Mucosae
2. Submucosa
a. Submucosal plexus
“Plexus of Meissner”
3. Muscularis externa
a. Myenteric plexus
“Plexus of Auerbach”
4. Serosa/Adventitia
 Histology of the Digestive tract cont’d
• Mucosa - Mucous layer consists of:
– epithelial lining
– lamina propria- loose connective tissue rich in blood vessel,
lymphatics, lymphocytes and smooth muscle cells, and sometimes
also containing glands.
– muscularis mucosae- thin layer of smooth muscle which lies below
the lamina propria:
• allows local movements of the mucosa independent of other movements of the digestive tract

• Submucosa - denser connective tissue layer

– with many blood and lymph vessels & submucosal plexus;
– may also contain glands and lymphoid tissue.
 Histology of the Digestive tract cont’d
• Muscularis externa - smooth muscle layer
– In most regions, circular & longitudinal bands of smooth
muscle;
– closest to lumen - circular smooth muscle;
– furthest from lumen - longitudinal smooth muscle;
– C.T. lies b/n these two layers;
– myenteric (Auerbach's) nerve plexus & blood & lymph vessels are
present in this layer of C.T. between the two muscle layers.
• Serosa
– is a thin layer of loose connective tissue, rich in blood vessels,
lymphatics, & adipose tissue, with a simple squamous covering
epithelium (mesothelium);
• Adventitia
– consisting of connective tissue with vessels and nerves, lacking
mesothelium.
Histology of the Digestive tract cont’d
 Intrinsic nerve plexuses
• Myenteric nerve plexus
• Submucosal nerve plexus
Glands in submucosa
Mucosa
• Epithelium
• Lamina propria
• Muscularis
mucosae
Submucosa
Muscularis
externa
• Longitudinal
muscle
• Circular muscle
Serosa
Nerve
Artery • Epithelium
Vein • Connective
tissue
Gland in mucosa Lumen
Lymphatic Duct of gland outside Mucosa-associated
Mesentery vessel alimentary canal lymphoid tissue

Figure 23.6
 Histology of oral cavity
• In the oral region, only the mucosa is easily
defined;
• Oral cavity is:
– lined with a keratinized or nonkeratinized stratified
squamous epithelium depending on what region
you’re in:
• The transition b/n the stratified keratinized squamous
epithelium of the skin and the stratified non-keratinized
squamous epithelium of much of the oral cavity occurs at
the lips.
 Histology of oral cavity cont’d
• The keratin layer:
– is best developed on the gingiva (gum) & hard palate
• Nonkeratinized squamous epithelium:
– covers the soft palate, lips, cheeks, and the floor of
the mouth
• lamina propria:
– is a layer of loose connective tissue below the
stratified squamous epithelium
– contains blood and lymph vessels, small glands, nerves and
aggregations of lymphocytes;
• Together, the stratified squamous epithelium and the
lamina propria form the oral mucosa - No muscularis
mucosae
 Histology of oral cavity cont’d
• Submucosa:
– Is continuous with lamina propria;
– Containing sublingual and submandibular salivary glands and
diffuse small salivary glands;
• There is:
– No distinct boundary between the lamina propria and the
submucosa, and
– No true muscularis externa in oral region - what muscle there
is will be striated.
– No serosa/adventitia.
 Histological slides of lip

Low-magnification micrograph of a lip.

 Tongue
Structure
• Dorsal surface
• Mucus membrane
- Papillae
Vallate papillae
Foliate papillae
Fungiform papillae
Filiform papillae
• Ventral surface
 Tongue (Histology)

• Mucosa
• -Epithelium-
Stratified squamous
Papilla-Taste buds
-Lingual corium –
connective tissue
Muscles- intrinsic
- extrinsic
- salivary glands
(Von Ebner glands)

- lymphoid tissue
-vessels
 Histology of pharynx
• Mucosa
• Epithelium
– Nasopharynx:
• Lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with
goblet cells but posterior wall is lined by stratified squamous
nonkeratinized epithelium;
– Oropharynx & laryngopharynx;
• Lined by stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium;
• Lamina propria
– Are dense fibroelastic tissue with mucoserous salivary
glands & lymphoid tissue as pharyngeal tonsils;
– Is fused with epimysium of the pharyngeal muscles;
• Has no muscularis mucosae.
 Histology of pharynx, cont’d
• Submucosa
– Is only found at the junction with esophagus
• Muscularis externa
– Are pharyngeal muscles (inner longitudinal & outer
circular skeletal muscles)
• Outer layer is adventitia.
Histology of pharynx, cont’d
 Histology of esophagus
• Esophagus histology,
– Epithelial Lining same as in much of the oral cavity – non
keratinized stratified squamous epithelium;
– Layers same as general digestive tract as outlined above;
1. mucosa
a. epithelium
b. lamina propria
c. muscularis mucosae
2. submucosa
3. muscularis externa
a. inner circular muscle
b. outer longitudinal muscle
4. adventitia or serosa
 Histology of esophagus cont’d
• Specializations of esophageal tissues
1. Esophageal glands proper:
– tubuloacinar mucus secreting glands which are present in the
submucosa;
– Their ducts extend to the esophageal lumen;
2. Esophageal cardiac glands:
– small branched mucus secreting glands which are also
sometimes found in the lamina propria near the stomach;
3. Muscular layer:
• Changes from striated muscle proximaly, to smooth muscle
near stomach
– Superior 1/3: skeletal muscle
– Middle 1/3 mixture of skeletal and smooth muscle
– Inferior 1/3 smooth muscle
4. Only the most distal portion of the esophagus, in the
peritoneal cavity, is covered by serosa.
5. The rest is enclosed by a layer of loose connective tissue, the
adventitia.
Micrograph of wall of esophagus
Esophagus histology, cont’d
 Histology of Stomach
• The wall in all regions of the stomach is made up of all
four major layers;
• The mucosa & submucosa of the empty stomach have
longitudinally directed folds known as rugae;
• Stomach mucosa shows distinct histological differences in
the:
– Cardia,
– Fundus/body, &
– Pylorus;
• Cells that secrete HCl & pepsin are restricted mainly to
body & fundus regions;
• Glands of cardia & pylorus produce primarily mucus.
Histology of the Stomach cont’d
Micrograph of wall of the stomach with rugae.
 Histology of the Stomach cont’d

Mucosa:
a. epithelium
• Is simple columnar surface epithelium that invaginates into
the lamina propria, forming gastric pits
b. lamina propria
– Is vascularized, surrounds and supports gastric pits
– contains glands and lymphoid cells
c. muscularis mucosae
 Histology of the Stomach cont’d
• Regional histological differences in mucosa of the
stomach:
• The mucosa’s lamina propria of cardia and pylorus of
the stomach:
– contains tubular glands, usually branched, with coiled
secretory portions called cardial glands and pyloric glands,
which secrete abundant mucus, as well as lysozyme;
• The mucosa’s lamina propria of fundus and body of
the stomach:
– is filled with branched, tubular gastric glands;
• Each gastric gland has an isthmus, a neck, & a base;
– the distribution of epithelial cells in the glands is not
uniform.
 Stomach histology cont’d
Gastric glands:
Cells in gastric glands
include:
-stem cells
- Mucus neck cells
-Parietal cell (oxyntic
cells)
-Chief (zymogenic cells)
-Entroendrocrine cells:
Like:
• enterochromaffin cells (EC
cells): secrete principally
serotonin (5-
hydroxytryptamine)
• G & D cells.
 Histology of the Stomach cont’d

• Gastric glands of fundus and body region

consists of :
– Mucous neck cells,
– parietal cells,
– chief cells,
– enteroendocrine cells, &
– undifferentiated stem cells.
 Gastric glands of fundus and body region cont’d
• isthmus, the part near the gastric pit, contains
– isthmus mucous cells that migrate and replace surface
mucous cells,
– a few undifferentiated stem cells, and
– a few parietal (oxyntic) cells;
• neck of the glands consists of:
– stem cells,
– mucous neck cells (different from the isthmus mucous cells),
and
– parietal cells;
• base of the glands contains:
– parietal cells and
– chief (zymogenic) cells.
• Various enteroendocrine cells are dispersed in the neck
and the base of the glands
Histology of the Stomach cont’d
Histology of the Stomach cont’d
 Histology of the Stomach cont’d
• Gastric glands of cardiac region contain:
– Mucous cells (similar in appearance with esophageal cardiac
glands)
– Lysozyme producing cells,
– A few parietal cells, &
– A few enteroendocrine cells
• Gastric glands of pyloric region contain:
– Mucous cells
– Lysozyme producing cells,
– Gastrin (G) cells that activate the parietal cells, and
– D (somatostatin producing) cells
• Whose secretion is stimulated by HCl, and inhibit the release of some
other hormones, including gastrin
– Few parietal cells
Micrograph of Esophagogastric junction
 Histology of the Stomach cont’d
• Muscle layer of the stomach has 3 sub layers
instead of 2.
– External muscle sublayer- is longitudinal.
– Middle muscle sublayer- is circular.
– Inner muscle sublayer -is oblique
• Serosa
Histology of the Stomach cont’d
Histology of Small Intestine
Histology of Small Intestine
 Histology of Small Intestine cont’d
• Viewed with the naked eye,
– the lining of the small intestine shows a series of
permanent circular or semilunar folds (plicae
circulares), made of mucosa and submucosa.
 Histology of Small Intestine cont’d
• Plicae circulares:
– are lined by a dense covering of finger-like projections called villi.
• Villi are mucosal outgrowths (epithelium plus lamina propria), OR
– contain lamina propria Internally, and
– covered with a simple columnar epithelium composed of absorptive
enterocytes and goblet cells
• At the apical cell membrane of each enterocyte are located dense
microvilli, which greatly increase the absorptive surface of the cell;
• Between the villi the covering epithelium invaginates to form short
tubular intestinal glands or crypts, which contain:
– stem cells for the epithelium,
– Absorptive cells,
– Goblet cells,
– Paneth cells,
– enteroendocrine cells, and
– Microfold (M) cells (Intraepithelial lymphocytes).
 Histology of Small Intestine cont’d

• Structural modifications
– Circular folds (plicae circulares)
– Villi
– Microvilli
Histology of Small Intestine cont’d
Histology of Small Intestine cont’d
 Microvilli
(brush border)

Absorptive cells

Lacteal
Goblet cell
Blood Vilus
capillaries
Mucosa
associated
lymphoid tissue Enteroendocrine
Intestinal crypt cells
Muscularis Venule
mucosae Lymphatic vessel
Duodenal gland Submucosa
Micrograph of small intestine
 Lamina propria through Serosa of SI

• lamina propria of
the small intestine
is composed of:
– loose connective
tissue with blood
and lymph vessels,
– nerve fibers, and
– smooth muscle
cells.
 Lamina propria through Serosa of SI
• Submucosa of proximal part of the duodenum has:
– large clusters of branched tubular mucous glands, the
duodenal (or Brunner) glands
• both the lamina propria and submucosa of ileum
contain:
– lymphoid nodule aggregates known as Peyer patches.
• muscularis is well developed,
– composed of an internal circular layer and an external
longitudinal layer, and
– is covered by a thin serosa
Micrograph of duodenum
 Small intestine -jejunum

Mucus membrane
-epithelium- Simple columnar
- intestinal villi
-lamina propria
intestinal glands (crypts of
lieberkuhn)
-solitary Lymphoid nodule
-muscularis mucosae
Submucosa
-NO gland
Musculalis layer
-inner circular
-outer longitudinal
Serosa
 Small intestine -ileum
Mucus membrane
-epithelium- Simple
columnar
- intestinal villi
-lamina propria
intestinal glands (crypts of
lieberkuhn)
-muscularis mucosae
Submucosa
-aggregated Lymphoid
nodule (peyers patches)
- mircofold cells (“M” Cell)
Musculalis layer
-inner circular
-outer longitudinal
Serosa
ileum
Histology of Large Intestine
 Histology of Large Intestine
• Mucosa is penetrated throughout its area:
– by tubular intestinal glands/crypts lined by goblet &
absorptive cells, with a small number of
enteroendocrine cells and stem cells
– lamina propria rich in MALT;
– Muscularis mucosa;
• Submucosa is well vascularized;
• Muscularis has a typical inner circular layer, but
the outer longitudinal muscle is only present in
three equally spaced bands, the taeniae coli;
• Serosa covers intraperitoneal portions of large
intestine, otherwise adventitia.
Histology of Large Intestine cont’d
 Histology of the wall of the large intestine
Lamina propria mucosae (+ Epithelium mucosae,
Lieberkühn’s crypts goblet cells

Tela submucosa Tunica muscularis mucosae

Dr Navneet Kumar Professor
Anatomy KGMU LKO
 Large intestine

Dr Navneet Kumar Professor

Anatomy KGMU LKO
 Large intestine
Dr Navneet Kumar Professor
Anatomy KGMU LKO
 Histology of anal canal
• Mucosa of upper 1/2-2/3 portion
– Similar to colon
• Mucosa of lower 1/3-1/2 portion
– Lined by stratified squamous epithelium that
changes from nonkeratinized to keratinized distally
– No intestinal glands
– Has apocrine sweat glands (circumanal glands)
– Muscularis mucosae disappears in the middle
third region.
 Histology of anal canal cont’d
• Submucosa
– Contain anal glands-produce mucus
– Contain hemorroidal plexus
• Internal hemorroidal plexus
• External hemorroidal plexus
• Muscularis externa
– Inner circular
– Outer longitudinal
• Outer layer is adventitia
 Histology of anal canal cont’d
• Transition of epithelium in anal canal, the lining of the mucosa is replaced
by stratified squamous epithelium
 Histology of accessory digestive
structures:
Pancreas, liver and gall bladder
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION
2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION
- synthesizes and secretes enzymes via a
system of ducts that are essential for
digestion in the intestine

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
- synthesizes and secretes hormones
into the bloodstream to regulate
glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION
- COMPOUND ACINOUS GLAND

- EACH ACINI CONSIST OF 5-8 PYRAMIDAL

CELLS THAT SIT ON A BASAL LAMINA
AND SURROUND A CENTRAL LUMEN

ACINAR CELLS
- BASALLY LOCATED NUCLEI & RER
- SUPRANUCLEAR GOLGI ZONE

- ZYMOGENIC GRANULES CONTAINING

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES IN APICAL REGION

CENTROACINAR CELLS
- LINE LUMEN OF ACINUS
- SECRETE LARGE AMOUNTS OF BICARBONATE
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION
PANCREAS H&E

INTERCALATED DUCTS

INTRALOBULAR DUCTS

INTERLOBULAR DUCTS

MAIN DUCTS
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION

INTERCALATED DUCTS
- lined with simple squamous epithelium

INTRALOBULAR DUCTS
- lined with simple cuboidal epithelium
- size on the order of magnitude of acini

INTERLOBULAR DUCTS
- lined with simple columnar epithelium
- found in fibroconnective tissue septa
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION

ACINAR CELLS
- BASALLY LOCATED NUCLEI & RER
- SUPRANUCLEAR GOLGI ZONE

- ZYMOGENIC GRANULES CONTAINING

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES IN APICAL REGION
trypsinogen, amylase, lipase

CENTROACINAR CELLS
- LINE LUMEN OF ACINUS
- SECRETE LARGE AMOUNTS OF BICARBONATE
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION

INTERCALATED DUCTS
PANCREAS H&E
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

1) EXOCRINE PORTION PANCREAS H&E

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
EXO-
ENDO-
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
- PRINCIPLE FUNCTION IS TO SECRETE
HORMONES THAT REGULATE BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVELS

ISLETS OF LANGERHANS
- MASSES OF RICHLY VASCULARIZED
ENDOCRINE CELLS SCATTERED
THROUGHOUT THE PANCREAS

- SEPARATED FROM SURROUNDING ACINAR

CELLS BY THIN CAPSULE OF RETICULAR
FIBERS

- 3 CELL TYPES IN ISLET DISTINGUISHED

ONLY VIA SPECIAL STAINS
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• PANCREAS

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION

CELL TYPES:

1) ALPHA CELLS (20%)

- SECRETE GLUCAGON; RAISES
BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

2) BETA CELLS (75%)

- SECRETE INSULIN; LOWERS
BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

3) DELTA CELLS (5%)

- SECRETE SOMATOSTATIN; INHIBITS
GLUCAGON AND INSULIN SECRETION
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• LIVER

1) EXOCRINE PORTION
- synthesizes and secretes bile via a
system of ducts that is essential for
digestion in the intestine

2) ENDOCRINE PORTION
- synthesizes and secretes numerous plasma
proteins into the bloodstream:
(albumin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, lipoproteins,
etc.)
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• LIVER

PORTA HEPATIS
PORTAL TRIAD
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• LIVER

Classical Liver Lobule

- basic functional unit of liver
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
- central vein at
• LIVER
center
- hexagonal in shape
- short axis: branches of
- portal triad at
portal triad between 2
corners
classic lobules
- portal triad at - long axis: between 2
center central veins
- triangular in shape
- central vein at
corners

CLASSIC LOBULE PORTAL LOBULE LIVER ACINUS

ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• LIVER

1• HEPATOCYTES

2• SINUSOIDS

3• SPACE OF DISSE

4• BILE CANALICULI
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
• LIVER

1• HEPATOCYTES

2• SINUSOIDS

3• SPACE OF DISSE
- perisinusoidal space between basal
surfaces of the endothelial cells and
the surfaces of the hepatocytes

4• BILE CANALICULI
- small canal beginning the biliary
tree formed by apposed grooves in
adjacent hepatocytes
LIVER
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER
LIVER H&E

BD

HA

PV
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER

BILE DUCTS
- lined with simple cuboidal epithelium
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER LIVER H&E

1• HEPATOCYTES

2• SINUSOIDS
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER LIVER

RETICULAR FIBER
MESHWORK
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER

RETICULAR FIBER MESHWORK

KUPFFER CELLS
- phagocytic cell, liver macrophage
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER LIVER H&E

KUPFFER CELLS

CV
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER LIVER H&E

KUPFFER CELLS
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER

3-D APPRECIATION FOR

HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE
OBSERVED IN 2-D
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• LIVER

3-D LOOK AT THE

BILIARY SYSTEM
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
LIVER H&E
• LIVER

SITE OF
HEMOPOEISIS
DURING EARLY
GESTATION
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS
LIVER H&E
• LIVER

SITE OF
HEMOPOEISIS
DURING EARLY
GESTATION
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• GALLBLADDER

- LOCATION FOR CONCENTRATION

AND STORAGE OF BILE

ROUTE OF BILE

HEPATOCYTE

BILE CANALICULI

RT & LT HEPATIC DUCTS

COMMON BILE DUCT

FILLING OF GALLBLADDER
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• GALLBLADDER

THREE LAYERS:

1) MUCOSA
- lined with tall columnar epithelium and
underlying basal lamina & lamina
propria
- mucosa highly folded and irregular

- NO MUSCULARIS MUCOSA OR SUBMUCOSA -

2) MUSCULARIS EXTERNA
- layers of smooth muscle
with irregular
orientation
3) ADVENTITIA or SEROSA
 ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE GLANDS

• GALLBLADDER

EPITHELIUM:
- tall columnar epithelium and underlying
basal lamina & lamina propria

- basally located nuclei

- fine microvilli border

The END!

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