These are Epithelial Cells, they are used as a microvilli bordering the villi. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of blood vessels and organs throughout the body.

Epithelial cells come in three different shapes and sizes. The shape of the cell changes based on what purpose the cell needs to accomplish. Cuboidal Epithelial cells are what your skin is made of. That’s why your skin is squishy. It wouldn’t work if you had squamous cells because the are too leaky. If you had columnar Epithelial cells, your hand would be too thick! That wouldn’t be too convenient, would it?

The three types of epithelial cells are:

Squamous,

Columnar,

and cuboidal.

Your hand is covered in them!

Your hand is covered in them!

Cuboidal epithelial cells, as their name suggest, are shaped like cubes they are shaped like cubes. They are typically found in tissues that secrete or absorb substances, such as in the kidneys and glands. Columnar cells are long and thin, like columns. These are usually found in places that secrete mucus like the stomach. They need to be that shape because it has to be really thick because of all of the fluids and acids that are in your stomach etc. Squamous epithelial cells are flat and are usually found lining surfaces that require a smooth flow of fluid such as your blood vessels, or lining areas that require a very thin surface for molecules to pass through, like the air sacs in your lungs.