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columnar epithelium

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
epithelium /ep·i·the·li·um/ (-the´le-um) pl. epithe´lia   [Gr.] the cellular covering of internal and external body surfaces, including the lining of vessels and small cavities. It consists of cells joined by small amounts of cementing substances and is classified according to the number of layers and the shape of the cells.
ciliated epithelium  that bearing vibratile cilia on the free surface.
columnar epithelium  that composed of columnar cells.
cuboidal epithelium  that composed of cuboidal cells.
glandular epithelium  that composed of secreting cells.
olfactory epithelium  pseudostratified epithelium lining the olfactory region of the nasal cavity and containing the receptors for the sense of smell.
Enlarge picture
Schematic diagram of the receptors in the olfactory epithelium.
pseudostratified epithelium  a type that looks stratified but is not, because its cells are arranged with their nuclei at different levels.
seminiferous epithelium  stratified epithelium lining the seminiferous tubules of the testis.
simple epithelium  that composed of a single layer of cells.
squamous epithelium  that composed of squamous cells.
stratified epithelium  that composed of cells arranged in layers.
transitional epithelium  that characteristically found lining hollow organs that are subject to great mechanical change due to contraction and distention; originally thought to represent a transition between stratified squamous and columnar epithelium.

columnar epithelium
n.
Epithelium made up of cells that are taller than they are wide and that form a single layer.

columnar epithelium
Etymology: L, columna, column; Gk, epi, upon, thele, nipple
a type of epithelial cell that resembles a hexagonal prism.

epithelium [ep″ĭ-the´le-um] (pl. epithe´lia) (Gr.)
the cellular covering of internal and external surfaces of the body, including the lining of vessels and other small cavities. It consists of cells joined by small amounts of cementing substances. Epithelium is classified into types on the basis of the number of layers deep and the shape of the superficial cells.
ciliated epithelium epithelium bearing vibratile, hairlike processes (cilia) on its free surface.
columnar epithelium epithelium whose cells are of much greater height than width.
cuboidal epithelium epithelium whose cells are of approximately the same height and width, and appear square in transverse section.
germinal epithelium thickened peritoneal epithelium covering the gonad from earliest development; formerly thought to give rise to germ cells.
glandular epithelium that composed of secreting cells.
pigmentary epithelium (pigmented epithelium) that made of cells containing granules of pigment.
sense epithelium (sensory epithelium) neuroepithelium (def. 1).
simple epithelium that composed of a single layer of cells.
squamous epithelium that composed of flattened platelike cells.
stratified epithelium epithelium made up of cells arranged in layers.
transitional epithelium a type characteristically found lining hollow organs, such as the urinary bladder, that are subject to great mechanical change due to contraction and distention; originally thought to represent a transition between stratified squamous and columnar epithelium.


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1 Studies have confirmed that squamous epithelium converts initially to columnar epithelium morphologically similar to the gastric cardia, composed of mucinous columnar epithelium with underlying mucous glands or mixed mucous/oxyntic glands, prior to the development of goblet cells.
Barrett''s esophagus is also suspected when deep-red patches of columnar epithelium exist within the lighter squamous mucosa.
The upper half of the sinus tract was covered with keratinizing squamous epithelium, and the lower half with nonciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
 
 
 
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