Simple columnar epithelium

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Simple columnar epithelium

Vertical section of a villus from the dog’s small intestine. X 80. (Simple columnar epithelium labeled at right, third from top.)

Transverse section of a villus, from the human intestine. X 350. a. Basement membrane, here somewhat shrunken away from the epithelium. b. Lacteal. c. Columnar epithelium. d. Its striated border. e. Goblet cells. f. Leucocytes in epithelium. f’. Leucocytes below epithelium. g. Bloodvessels. h. Muscle cells cut across.

The simple columnar epithelium is made up of one layer of cells that are me relatively thick and protective of the underlying tissues due to its elongated shape.

It lines the uterus as well as most organs of the digestive tract including the stomach and large intestine.

It is primary function is absorption, often having many minute, cylindrical processes extending outward microvilli.^[1]

Simple columnar epithelia are further divided into two categories: nonciliated and ciliated.

1 Nonciliated
2 Ciliated
3 Additional images
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Nonciliated

Nonciliated columnar epithelia do not have cilia, and are found in the gastrointestinal tract and the gallbladder where they perform secretion and absorption.

[edit] Ciliated

Ciliated columnar epithelia move mucus and other substances via cilia, and are found in the upper respiratory tract, the Fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the central part of the spinal cord.

The simple columnar epithelium lines the lumen of the uterine tube, where currents generated by the cilia propel the egg cell, toward the uterus.