Which epithelium lines thyroid follicles?

Which epithelium lines thyroid follicles?

• A. Simple squamous epithelium
• B. Transitional epithelium
• C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
• D. Simple columnar epithelium

Answer: (C)

Thyroid follicles are lined by a single layer of cube-shaped cells. This simple cuboidal epithelium forms the follicular cells that surround the colloid-filled lumen of each follicle and work to synthesize and store the thyroid hormone precursors. While the height of these cells can vary with activity, the typical lining you learn in histology is simple cuboidal. The other epithelia listed don’t line thyroid follicles: simple squamous would be too flat for a secretory lining, transitional epithelium is found in urinary tract stretch areas, and simple columnar lines much of the digestive tract and some ducts, not thyroid follicles.

Thyroid follicles are lined by a single layer of cube-shaped cells. This simple cuboidal epithelium forms the follicular cells that surround the colloid-filled lumen of each follicle and work to synthesize and store the thyroid hormone precursors. While the height of these cells can vary with activity, the typical lining you learn in histology is simple cuboidal. The other epithelia listed don’t line thyroid follicles: simple squamous would be too flat for a secretory lining, transitional epithelium is found in urinary tract stretch areas, and simple columnar lines much of the digestive tract and some ducts, not thyroid follicles.