Q.Some Epithelia are pseudostratified. What does this mean ?
You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →A pseudostratified epithelium is really a single (simple) layer of cells, with every cell resting on the basement membrane, but it looks multi-layered because the cells vary in height and shape, so their nuclei appear scattered at different levels.
The term "stratified" epithelium normally means the tissue is built of multiple layers of cells stacked on top of each other, with only the bottom-most layer touching the basement membrane. A pseudostratified epithelium, however, is technically a simple (single-layered) epithelium — every single cell in it does reach down and rest on the basement membrane. What makes it look stratified under the microscope is that the cells are of unequal height and shape: some cells are tall and slender and reach all the way up to the free (luminal) surface, while other cells are shorter and do not reach the surface. Because the nuclei of these cells sit at different heights within the tissue depending on each cell's shape, a cross-section shows nuclei scattered at multiple levels, creating the false ("pseudo") impression of several stacked layers, when it is genuinely only one layer thick.
…
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.