Simple squamous epithelium                Chart

Differential diagnosis: It can be confused with other epithelium types such as columnar and cuboidal epithelium. Note that such epithelia have cells which are not flat or polyhedral; they are tall. Transitional epithelia have squamous cell type on top when there is no distension as in urinary bladder. The transitional epithelium however is never simple (i.e. one layer thick) and it has more than one shape lying on the basement membrane.

Roll over mouse Diagnostic Features: a. Tissue may is compact b. Consists of cells which are polyhedral in shape and form  pavement configuration. c. One cell layer on top of basement membrane. d. Make certain that epithelium is being examined and not the connective tissue below it under the basement membrane. Examples include endothelium of blood vessels, Bowman's capsule of kidney and alveoli of lung.

Draw your own section here and make your diagnosis by data base selection below

Level 1: Select hollow or compact
Level 2: Select epithelial tissue from list of sclerous, muscular, connective organ-glands and nervous tissues
Level 3: Select simple since only one cell layer can be seen on basement membrane
Level 4: Select squamous since all cells are flattened and polyhedral and not tall as columnar or cuboidal cells.

Do you think this is a section of the kidney Bowman's capsule or an endothelium or lining of a serous cavity?

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