Which epithelial type is commonly associated with having goblet cells and cilia on its apical surface?

Which epithelial type is commonly associated with having goblet cells and cilia on its apical surface?

• A. Simple columnar epithelium
• B. Transitional epithelium
• C. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
• D. Stratified squamous epithelium

Answer: (C)

Goblet cells produce mucus to trap particles, and cilia on the apical surface beat to move that mucus out of the airway. When both features appear together, the epithelium is pseudostratified columnar. It looks layered because nuclei are at different heights, yet every cell touches the basement membrane, giving a single-layer appearance. This arrangement lines much of the respiratory tract, like the trachea, where mucus traps debris and cilia sweep it toward the throat. Other epithelial types either lack goblet cells or lack apical cilia in this specific combination, so the presence of both goblet cells and cilia most clearly points to pseudostratified columnar epithelium.

Goblet cells produce mucus to trap particles, and cilia on the apical surface beat to move that mucus out of the airway. When both features appear together, the epithelium is pseudostratified columnar. It looks layered because nuclei are at different heights, yet every cell touches the basement membrane, giving a single-layer appearance. This arrangement lines much of the respiratory tract, like the trachea, where mucus traps debris and cilia sweep it toward the throat. Other epithelial types either lack goblet cells or lack apical cilia in this specific combination, so the presence of both goblet cells and cilia most clearly points to pseudostratified columnar epithelium.