Veterinary Histology and Embryology

CLASSIFICATION OF EPITHELIUM

Epithelia are classified on the basis of the number of cell layers and the shape of the cells in the surface layer.

Based on number of cell layers

• Simple epithelia: one layer of cells in the epithelium.
• Stratified epithelia: two or more layers of cells.

Based on Shape of cells

• Cells in the surface layer are, as a rule, described according to their height as squamous (scale- or plate-like), cuboidal or columnar.