Location
Epithelium lines both the outside (skin) and the inside cavities and lumen of bodies. The outermost layer of our skin is composed of dead stratified squamous, keratinized epithelial cells.
Tissues that line the inside of the mouth, the esophagus and part of the rectum are composed of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Other surfaces that separate body cavities from the outside environment are lined by simple squamous, columnar, or pseudostratified epithelial cells. Other epithelial cells line the insides of the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive and urinary tracts, and make up the exocrine and endocrine glands. The outer surface of the cornea is covered with fast-growing, easily-regenerated epithelial cells. Endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels, the heart, and lymphatic vessels) is a specialized form of epithelium. Another type, mesothelium, forms the walls of the pericardium, pleurae, and peritoneum.
| System | Tissue | Epithelium | Subtype |
|---|---|---|---|
| circulatory | blood vessels | Simple squamous | endothelium |
| digestive | ducts of submandibular glands | Stratified columnar | - |
| digestive | attached gingiva | Stratified squamous, keratinized | - |
| digestive | dorsum of tongue | Stratified squamous, keratinized | - |
| digestive | hard palate | Stratified squamous, keratinized | - |
| digestive | oesophagus | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | - |
| digestive | stomach | Simple columnar, non-ciliated | gastric epithelium |
| digestive | small intestine | Simple columnar, non-ciliated | intestinal epithelium |
| digestive | large intestine | Simple columnar, non-ciliated | intestinal epithelium |
| digestive | rectum | Simple columnar, non-ciliated | - |
| digestive | anus | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized superior to Hilton's white line Stratified squamous, keratinized inferior to Hilton's white line |
- |
| digestive | gallbladder | Simple columnar, non-ciliated | - |
| endocrine | thyroid follicles | Simple cuboidal | - |
| nervous | ependyma | Simple cuboidal | - |
| lymphatic | lymph vessel | Simple squamous | endothelium |
| integumentary | skin - dead superficial layer | Stratified squamous, keratinized | - |
| integumentary | sweat gland ducts | Stratified cuboidal | - |
| integumentary | mesothelium of body cavities | Simple squamous | mesothelium |
| reproductive - female | ovaries | Simple cuboidal | germinal epithelium (female) |
| reproductive - female | Fallopian tubes | Simple columnar, ciliated | - |
| reproductive - female | endometrium (uterus) | Simple columnar, ciliated | - |
| reproductive - female | cervix (endocervix) | Simple columnar | - |
| reproductive - female | cervix (ectocervix) | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | - |
| reproductive - female | vagina | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | - |
| reproductive - female | labia majora | Stratified squamous, keratinized | - |
| reproductive - male | tubuli recti | Simple cuboidal | germinal epithelium (male) |
| reproductive - male | rete testis | Simple cuboidal | - |
| reproductive - male | ductuli efferentes | Pseudostratified columnar | - |
| reproductive - male | epididymis | Pseudostratified columnar, with stereocilia | - |
| reproductive - male | vas deferens | Pseudostratified columnar | - |
| reproductive - male | ejaculatory duct | Simple columnar | - |
| reproductive - male (gland) | bulbourethral glands | Simple columnar | - |
| reproductive - male (gland) | seminal vesicle | Pseudostratified columnar | - |
| respiratory | oropharynx | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | - |
| respiratory | larynx | Pseudostratified columnar, ciliated | respiratory epithelium |
| respiratory | larynx - True vocal cords | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | - |
| respiratory | trachea | Pseudostratified columnar, ciliated | respiratory epithelium |
| respiratory | respiratory bronchioles | Simple cuboidal | - |
| sensory | cornea | Stratified squamous, non-keratinized | corneal epithelium |
| sensory | nose | Pseudostratified columnar | olfactory epithelium |
| urinary | kidney - proximal convoluted tubule | Simple cuboidal, with microvilli | - |
| urinary | kidney - ascending thin limb | Simple squamous | - |
| urinary | kidney - distal convoluted tubule | Simple cuboidal, without microvilli | - |
| urinary | kidney - collecting duct | Simple cuboidal | - |
| urinary | renal pelvis | Transitional | urothelium |
| urinary | ureter | Transitional | urothelium |
| urinary | urinary bladder | Transitional | urothelium |
| urinary | prostatic urethra | Transitional | urothelium |
| urinary | membranous urethra | Pseudostratified columnar, non-ciliated | - |
| urinary | penile urethra | Pseudostratified columnar, non-ciliated | - |
| urinary | external urethral orifice | Stratified squamous | - |
Read more about this topic: Epithelium