Complete the classification of epithelia.
An epithelium one cell thick is called ______, while one many cells thick is called ______. Flat cells are described as ______, and an epithelium that looks layered but whose cells all touch the basement membrane is called ______.
Word bank: simple · stratified · squamous · pseudostratified · columnar
Hints
- Epithelia are classified twice: by number of layers and by cell shape.
- One category looks layered but is not.
Show the answer
An epithelium one cell thick is called simple, while one many cells thick is called stratified. Flat cells are described as squamous, and an epithelium that looks layered but whose cells all touch the basement membrane is called pseudostratified.
The double classification, layers and shape, predicts function directly. Simple squamous means thin and exchanging; stratified squamous means thick and protective. Pseudostratified is the trap, since it looks like one thing and is another.
Practise Epithelial Tissue and Glands
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