Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
Biology: Epithelial Tissue, the structural modification of cells, simple Epithelium
Biology: Epithelial Tissue, the structural modification of cells, Squamous, Cuboidal, And Columnar Epithelium
This tissue has a free surface, which faces either a body fluid or the external environment and thus provides a covering or a lining for some part of the body. The cells are compactly packed with the small intercellular matrix. There are two types of epithelium mainly simple epithelium and compound epithelium.
Simple epithelium is composed of a single layer of cells and functions as a lining for body cavities, ducts, and tubes. The compound epithelium has two or more cell layers and it has a protective function as it does in our skin.
Depending on the structural modification of cells, simple epithelium divided into three types.
Squamous- The Squamous epithelium is composed of a thin layer of flattened cells with irregular boundaries. They are found in the walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs and are involved in functions like forming a diffusion boundary.
Cuboidal- The cuboidal epithelium is composed of a single layer of cube-like cells. This is commonly found in ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys
Columnar- The columnar epithelium is composed of a single layer of tall and slender cells. Their nuclei are located at the base. They are found in the lining of stomach and intestine and help in secretion and absorption.
