<Tr> <Td> Squamous </Td> <Td> Squamous cells have the appearance of thin, flat plates that can look polygonal when viewed from above . Their name comes from squāma, Latin for scale--as on fish or snake skin . The cells fit closely together in tissues; providing a smooth, low - friction surface over which fluids can move easily . The shape of the nucleus usually corresponds to the cell form and helps to identify the type of epithelium . Squamous cells tend to have horizontally flattened, nearly oval shaped nuclei because of the thin flattened form of the cell . Squamous epithelium is found lining surfaces such as the skin, and alveoli in the lung, enabling simple passive diffusion as also found in the alveolar epithelium in the lungs . Specialized squamous epithelium also forms the lining of cavities such as in blood vessels, as endothelium and in the pericardium, as mesothelium and in other body cavities . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuboidal </Td> <Td> Cuboidal epithelial cells have a cube - like shape and appear square in cross-section . The cell nucleus is large, spherical and is in the centre of the cell . Cuboidal epithelium is commonly found in secretive tissue such as the exocrine glands, or in absorptive tissue such as the pancreas, the lining of the kidney tubules as well as in the ducts of the glands . The germinal epithelium that covers the female ovary, and the germinal epithelium that lines the walls of the seminferous tubules in the testes are also of the cuboidal type . Cuboidal cells provide protection and may be active in pumping material in or out of the lumen, or passive depending on their location and specialisation . Simple cuboidal epithelium commonly differentiates to form the secretory and duct portions of glands . Stratified cuboidal epithelium protects areas such as the ducts of sweat glands, mammary glands, and salivary glands . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Columnar </Td> <Td> Columnar epithelial cells are elongated and column - shaped and have a height of at least four times their width . Their nuclei are elongated and are usually located near the base of the cells . Columnar epithelium forms the lining of the stomach and intestines . The cells here may possess microvilli for maximising the surface area for absorption and these microvilli may form a brush border . Other cells may be ciliated to move mucus in the function of mucociliary clearance . Other ciliated cells are found in the fallopian tubes, the uterus and central canal of the spinal cord . Some columnar cells are specialized for sensory reception such as in the nose, ears and the taste buds . Hair cells in the inner ears have stereocilia which are similar to microvilli . Goblet cells are modified columnar cells and are found between the columnar epithelial cells of the duodenum . They secrete mucus, which acts as a lubricant . Single - layered non-ciliated columnar epithelium tends to indicate an absorptive function . Stratified columnar epithelium is rare but is found in lobar ducts in the salivary glands, the eye, pharynx and sex organs . This consists of a layer of cells resting on at least one other layer of epithelial cells which can be squamous, cuboidal, or columnar . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pseudostratified </Td> <Td> These are simple columnar epithelial cells whose nuclei appear at different heights, giving the misleading (hence "pseudo") impression that the epithelium is stratified when the cells are viewed in cross section . Ciliated pseudostratified epithelial cells have cilia . Cilia are capable of energy dependent pulsatile beating in a certain direction through interaction of cytoskeletal microtubules and connecting structural proteins and enzymes . In the respiratory tract the wafting effect produced causes mucus secreted locally by the goblet cells (to lubricate and to trap pathogens and particles) to flow in that direction (typically out of the body). Ciliated epithelium is found in the airways (nose, bronchi), but is also found in the uterus and Fallopian tubes, where the cilia propel the ovum to the uterus . </Td> </Tr>

Describe the function location and structure of epithelial tissue