The epiglottis is a small, movable “lid” just above the larynx that prevents food and drink from entering your windpipe. It is composed mostly of connective tissue specifically elastic cartilage.

The word hyaline means “glass-like”, and hyaline cartilage is a glossy, greyish-white tissue with a uniform appearance. Composed of Type II Collagen, it provides support and flexibility to different parts of the body. It is found in structures like the nose, ears, and areas where the ends of the ribs attach to the sternum, and in parts of the res…[Read more]

Ciliated columnar epithelium – is composed of simple columnar epithelial cells with cilia on their apical surfaces. These epithelial cells are found in the lining of the fallopian tubes and parts of the respiratory system, where the beating of the cilia helps remove particulate matter.

Pseudostratified epithelium is a type of epithelium that appears to be stratified but instead consists of a single layer of irregularly shaped and differently sized columnar cells. The nuclei of neighboring cells appear at different levels rather than clustered in the basal end. They function to excrete mucous to serve as a lubricant. Ciliated…[Read more]

The image above is a mircoscopic picture of an elastic cartilage. Elastic cartilage is one of the many connective tissue types, and it contains more elastic fibers than hyaline cartilage. Chondrocytes are the cells present in your elastic cartilage and are responsible for excreting substances in your cartilage matrix. Elastic cartilage provides…[Read more]

Attached is a photo taken from the lens of a microscope examining an epithelial tissue. What is shown is an example of a Pseudostratified Ciliated Epithelium, most probably coming from the respiratory tract. Pseudostratified tissues are commonly found in the respiratory tract. The cilia function as mechanical appendages, most active during…[Read more]