What Type of Epithelium Occurs in the Mucous Membrane of the Trachea

Question

What type of epithelium occurs in the mucous membrane of the trachea?
A) transitional epithelium
B) stratified squamous epithelium
C) pseudostratified ciliated columnar
D) simple columnar cells

Accepted Answer

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium is found in the mucous membrane of the trachea. This type of epithelium appears stratified due to the uneven heights of the cells, but all cells are anchored to the basement membrane and thus it is classified as simple epithelium. Additionally, the presence of cilia on the epithelial cells helps to move mucus and debris out of the respiratory tract.