Which epithelial type is tall, cylindrical cells; the height of each cell is greater than its width?

• A. Squamous
• B. Columnar
• C. Cuboidal
• D. Simple squamous

Answer: (B)

Epithelial shape is determined by the height-to-width ratio of the cells. When the cells are tall and cylindrical, with height greater than width, they are columnar epithelium. This elongated form supports functions like absorption and secretion, often with nuclei seated near the base and sometimes with microvilli or cilia on the apical surface to aid their roles. In contrast, squamous cells are flat and wide, cuboidal cells are roughly as tall as they are wide, and simple squamous refers to a single layer of flat cells. So the description of tall, cylindrical cells clearly fits columnar epithelium.