CBSE Class 11-science Answered
Three major types of simple epithelia are
1) Squamous epithelium: Cells are flattened with irregular bodies.
It is found in the walls of blood vessels and the air sacs of the lungs.
Its function is forming diffusion boundaries.
2) Cuboidal epithelium: Cells are cube-like and arranged in a single line.
The cuboidal epithelium is commonly found in the ducts of glands, and the tubular parts of the kidneys are nephrons.
3) Columnar epithelium: Cells are tall and slender and arranged in a single line.
The nuclei of these cells are located at the base.
Columnar epithelium is found in the lining of the stomach and intestine. It aids in secretion and absorption.
In some cases, the free ends of cells possess microvilli. Such epithelium is called ciliated epithelium. The epithelium is responsible for the movement of mucus and particles in a specific direction.