<Table> <Tr> <Th> Type </Th> <Th> Description </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Squamous </Td> <Td> Squamous cells have the appearance of thin , flat plates that can look polygonal when viewed from above . Their name comes from squāma , Latin for scale -- as on fish or snake skin . The cells fit closely together in tissues ; providing a smooth , low - friction surface over which fluids can move easily . The shape of the nucleus usually corresponds to the cell form and helps to identify the type of epithelium . Squamous cells tend to have horizontally flattened , nearly oval shaped nuclei because of the thin flattened form of the cell . Squamous epithelium is found lining surfaces such as the skin , and alveoli in the lung , enabling simple passive diffusion as also found in the alveolar epithelium in the lungs . Specialized squamous epithelium also forms the lining of cavities such as in blood vessels , as endothelium and in the pericardium , as mesothelium and in other body cavities . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuboidal </Td> <Td> Cuboidal epithelial cells have a cube - like shape and appear square in cross-section . The cell nucleus is large , spherical and is in the centre of the cell . Cuboidal epithelium is commonly found in secretive tissue such as the exocrine glands , or in absorptive tissue such as the pancreas , the lining of the kidney tubules as well as in the ducts of the glands . The germinal epithelium that covers the female ovary , and the germinal epithelium that lines the walls of the seminferous tubules in the testes are also of the cuboidal type . Cuboidal cells provide protection and may be active in pumping material in or out of the lumen , or passive depending on their location and specialisation . Simple cuboidal epithelium commonly differentiates to form the secretory and duct portions of glands . Stratified cuboidal epithelium protects areas such as the ducts of sweat glands , mammary glands , and salivary glands . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Columnar </Td> <Td> Columnar epithelial cells are elongated and column - shaped and have a height of at least four times their width . Their nuclei are elongated and are usually located near the base of the cells . Columnar epithelium forms the lining of the stomach and intestines . The cells here may possess microvilli for maximising the surface area for absorption and these microvilli may form a brush border . Other cells may be ciliated to move mucus in the function of mucociliary clearance . Other ciliated cells are found in the fallopian tubes , the uterus and central canal of the spinal cord . Some columnar cells are specialized for sensory reception such as in the nose , ears and the taste buds . Hair cells in the inner ears have stereocilia which are similar to microvilli . Goblet cells are modified columnar cells and are found between the columnar epithelial cells of the duodenum . They secrete mucus , which acts as a lubricant . Single - layered non-ciliated columnar epithelium tends to indicate an absorptive function . Stratified columnar epithelium is rare but is found in lobar ducts in the salivary glands , the eye , pharynx and sex organs . This consists of a layer of cells resting on at least one other layer of epithelial cells which can be squamous , cuboidal , or columnar . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pseudostratified </Td> <Td> These are simple columnar epithelial cells whose nuclei appear at different heights , giving the misleading ( hence `` pseudo '' ) impression that the epithelium is stratified when the cells are viewed in cross section . Ciliated pseudostratified epithelial cells have cilia . Cilia are capable of energy dependent pulsatile beating in a certain direction through interaction of cytoskeletal microtubules and connecting structural proteins and enzymes . In the respiratory tract the wafting effect produced causes mucus secreted locally by the goblet cells ( to lubricate and to trap pathogens and particles ) to flow in that direction ( typically out of the body ) . Ciliated epithelium is found in the airways ( nose , bronchi ) , but is also found in the uterus and Fallopian tubes , where the cilia propel the ovum to the uterus . </Td> </Tr> </Table>
where is ciliated epithelial tissue found in the body
the lining of the stomach and intestines the fallopian tubes the uterus central canal of the spinal cord the airways ( nose , bronchi )