Many differently formed epithelial cells form a multi-layered squamous epithelium.
Without ceratinization it occurs for example inside the oral cavity the throat and inside the vagina.
WITH ceratinization it forms the epidermis, the vessel-less outer layer of the skin.
The epithelium is divided from the underlying tissue by a basal membrane or lamina.
Epithelial cells can be squamous, cuboid, or columnar.
In this picture the surface of the epithelium is covered in small motile cilia. This so called respiratory epithelium (columnar) plays an important role in the bronchial system, where it covers almost the entire surface. The cilia catch foreign matter and transport it out of the body.
(with vessels)
