Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
NOTES:
This is the lining tissue of most of the conducting portion of the respiratory tract. The lumen (apical surface) is up in this picture. Notice the narrow columnar cells and the prominent basement membrane (solid pink line). ALL the cells attach to this membrane, though not all reach the apical surface. Since the nuclei are not all at the same level, the tissue appears to be stratified, even though it is not; hence the term 'pseudostratified.' Notice also the occasional goblet cells, and the cilia which line the apical surface.
(Press BACK button on browser to return)