Slide 16. Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium of the esophagus, H&E
Covers the appearance of stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium of the oesophagus in H&E stain, including its stain colours and how to recognise it by its many layers, cell shapes from basal to surface, and retained nuclei at the surface. It also notes the lining of the cheeks, lips and floor of the mouth as the same type, and contrasts it with keratinised skin and transitional epithelium.
Inside: 1 section · 1 min
Topic 105 of 127 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Cytology (Dental Medicine, Year 1). The free AceMed note covers it in 1 section, about 117 words (1 min of reading).
In this note
Introduction
Introduction
The esophagus is lined by stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium, which protects against friction while staying moist. The lining mucosa of the cheeks, lips and floor of the mouth is the same type.
Stain
H&E: nuclei blue-purple, cytoplasm pink.
How to recognise it
A thick epithelium of many layers.
Cuboidal basal cells, then polygonal cells, then flattened cells at the surface.
The surface cells still have nuclei: there is no layer of keratin.
Connective tissue papillae push up into the epithelium. Mucous glands lie in the submucosa, and the muscle layer is thick.
Don't confuse it with: the skin (keratinized, with a surface layer of dead cells without nuclei) or transitional epithelium.
Theory: topic 38 (stratified surface epithelia).
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