Epithelial Tissue — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Epithelial Tissue MCQs with step-by-step solutions (38 questions). Part of Structural Organisation in Animals. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · theory
Epithelial tissue rests on a non-cellular basement membrane and has:
A. Contractile fibres
B. Cells compactly packed with little intercellular material ✓ Correct
C. A rich blood supply within the layer
D. Abundant matrix between cells
Solution: Epithelia are compact with minimal intercellular space, avascular, and sit on a basement membrane.
Q2 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · theory
The epithelium lining blood vessels and air sacs, made of a single layer of flat cells, is:
A. Simple squamous ✓ Correct
B. Columnar
C. Simple cuboidal
D. Stratified
Solution: Simple squamous (pavement) epithelium forms thin diffusion barriers (alveoli, capillary walls).
Q3 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · theory
Ciliated columnar epithelium is found lining the ______, where cilia move mucus/particles:
A. Respiratory tract and fallopian tubes ✓ Correct
B. Skin surface
C. Blood capillaries
D. Kidney tubules only
Solution: Ciliated epithelium moves substances in the trachea, bronchioles and oviducts.
Q4 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · theory
Cell junctions that provide strong adhesion (cementing neighbouring cells) are:
A. Gap junctions
B. Tight junctions
C. Adhering junctions (desmosomes) ✓ Correct
D. Synapses
Solution: Tight junctions seal to prevent leakage; adhering junctions cement cells; gap junctions allow communication.
Q5 — Epithelial Tissue · hard · theory
Compound (stratified) epithelium differs from simple epithelium mainly in its:
A. Role in secretion and absorption
B. Protective function due to many cell layers ✓ Correct
C. Single-layered structure
D. Presence of cilia in all cases
Solution: Compound epithelium (e.g. skin, buccal cavity) is multilayered and chiefly protective, with limited secretion/absorption.
Q6 — Epithelial Tissue · hard · theory
Glandular epithelium that releases its product by rupture of the entire cell (cell becomes the secretion) is:
A. Endocrine only
B. Merocrine (eccrine)
C. Apocrine
D. Holocrine ✓ Correct
Solution: In holocrine secretion the whole cell disintegrates to release product (e.g. sebaceous glands); merocrine cells stay intact.
Q7 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · numerical
In the proximal convoluted tubule of the nephron and the ducts of many glands, the lining is a single layer of tall, pillar-like cells. This epithelium is best classified as:
A. Compound squamous epithelium
B. Simple cuboidal epithelium
C. Simple columnar epithelium ✓ Correct
D. Simple squamous epithelium
Solution: Tall column-like cells forming a single layer make up simple columnar epithelium, which lines the stomach, intestine and gland ducts and aids secretion and absorption.
Q8 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · numerical
A tissue must move a sheet of mucus and trapped dust steadily in one direction along the bronchi. The epithelium suited to this and the reason are:
A. Ciliated columnar epithelium, because the free surface bears motile cilia ✓ Correct
B. Squamous epithelium, because its thin cells allow rapid diffusion
C. Cuboidal epithelium, because its cube-shaped cells store secretions
D. Glandular epithelium, because it secretes lubricating mucus
Solution: Ciliated columnar epithelium carries cilia on its free surface whose coordinated beating sweeps mucus and particles along, as in the respiratory tract.
Q9 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · numerical
Which pairing of a simple epithelium with a correct location is right?
A. Simple squamous — walls of blood capillaries and alveoli ✓ Correct
B. Ciliated cuboidal — lining of the buccal cavity
C. Simple columnar — outer surface of the ovary
D. Simple cuboidal — inner lining of the urinary bladder
Solution: Simple squamous (pavement) epithelium forms the delicate lining of capillaries and alveoli where thinness favours diffusion; the other pairings are wrong.
Q10 — Epithelial Tissue · easy · numerical
Multicellular glands such as the salivary and pancreatic glands that pour their secretion through ducts onto an epithelial surface are:
A. Endocrine glands
B. Ductless glands
C. Unicellular glands only
D. Exocrine glands ✓ Correct
Solution: Exocrine glands release their products (mucus, saliva, enzymes, milk) through ducts, unlike endocrine glands which are ductless and secrete hormones into blood.
Q11 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · numerical
Assertion (A): Tight junctions help to stop substances from leaking across a layer of epithelial cells. Reason (R): Tight junctions seal adjacent cells by fusing their plasma membranes near the apical region. Choose the correct option.
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Solution: Tight junctions form a fusion belt near the apical surface that blocks the paracellular leakage of materials, so R correctly explains A.
Q12 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · numerical
Match the junction with its function: (i) Tight junction (ii) Adhering junction (iii) Gap junction — (p) cements cells to keep them together (q) allows rapid transfer of ions/small molecules via cytoplasmic channels (r) prevents leakage of fluid across the sheet. The correct match is:
A. (i)-r, (ii)-p, (iii)-q ✓ Correct
B. (i)-r, (ii)-q, (iii)-p
C. (i)-p, (ii)-q, (iii)-r
D. (i)-q, (ii)-r, (iii)-p
Solution: Tight junctions stop leakage, adhering junctions cement neighbouring cells, and gap junctions provide cytoplasmic channels for rapid communication between cells.
Q13 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · numerical
The basement membrane on which every epithelium rests is:
A. A layer of living cuboidal cells that divide to replace worn epithelium
B. A muscular sheet that contracts to fold the epithelium
C. A non-cellular layer of glycoproteins and collagen secreted partly by the epithelium and partly by the underlying connective tissue ✓ Correct
D. A network of capillaries that directly nourishes each epithelial cell
Solution: The basement membrane is a thin non-cellular layer rich in collagen and glycoproteins; it lacks blood vessels, so epithelia are avascular and get nutrients by diffusion.
Q14 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · numerical
Which statement about compound epithelium is correct?
A. It rests on connective tissue without any basement membrane
B. It is a single layer of cells specialised for secretion and absorption
C. It lines blood vessels because its thinness aids diffusion
D. It is made of two or more cell layers and chiefly provides protection against mechanical and chemical stress ✓ Correct
Solution: Compound (stratified) epithelium has multiple cell layers, so it has a limited role in secretion/absorption and mainly protects surfaces such as the skin and buccal cavity.
Q15 — Epithelial Tissue · medium · numerical
A goblet cell in the intestinal lining and an acinar cell of the pancreas differ in that:
A. The goblet cell is endocrine whereas the acinar cell is exocrine
B. The goblet cell secretes enzymes while the acinar cell secretes only mucus
C. Both are unicellular glands secreting hormones directly into blood
D. The goblet cell is a unicellular gland whereas the acinar cell is part of a multicellular gland ✓ Correct
Solution: A goblet cell is a single-celled (unicellular) mucus gland, while pancreatic acinar cells form a multicellular exocrine gland; both are exocrine, not endocrine.
Q16 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The outer or inner lining of the body organs are formed by:
A. Neural tissue
B. Variable tissue and differs from organ to organ
C. Muscular tissue
D. Epithelial tissue ✓ Correct
Solution: Epithelial tissue forms the covering or lining of external and internal surfaces of body organs.
Q17 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The epithelium of air sacs of lungs and the walls of blood vessels is:
A. Simple columnar epithelium
B. Brush bordered epithelium
C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
D. Simple squamous epithelium ✓ Correct
Solution: Simple squamous epithelium (flat cells) lines the alveoli and blood vessel walls, aiding diffusion.
Q18 — Epithelial Tissue · hard
Which of the following is not associated with epithelium? (1) Cells are compactly packed with little intercellular space. (2) It is highly vascularised. (3) It forms covering or lining of external and internal surfaces. (4) It helps in protection, secretion, absorption, respiration etc.
A. It is highly vascularised. ✓ Correct
B. It forms covering or lining of external and internal surfaces.
C. Cells are compactly packed with little intercellular space.
D. It helps in protection, secretion, absorption, respiration etc.
Solution: Epithelium is avascular (non-vascularised); it receives nutrients by diffusion from underlying connective tissue.
Q19 — Epithelial Tissue · hard
Which of the following statement is false about the glands? (1) Goblet cells secrete mucus. (2) Exocrine glands possess duct for secretion of mucus, milk, saliva, earwax, digestive enzymes, oil and other cell products. (3) Glandular epithelium consists of specialized columnar or cuboidal cells. (4) Endocrine glands secrete a variety of enzymes only.
A. Glandular epithelium consists of specialized columnar or cuboidal cells.
B. Goblet cells secrete mucus.
C. Endocrine glands secrete a variety of enzymes only. ✓ Correct
D. Exocrine glands possess duct for secretion of mucus, milk, saliva, earwax, digestive enzymes, oil and other cell products.
Solution: Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into blood, not enzymes only.
Q20 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The epithelium which is composed of a single layer of cube-like cells is commonly found in:
A. Ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys ✓ Correct
B. Lining of stomach and fallopian tubes
C. Walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs
D. Bronchioles and fallopian tubes
Solution: Simple cuboidal epithelium lines ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons, where it aids secretion and absorption.
Q21 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The epithelium which is composed of a single layer of tall and slender cells with nuclei located at the base, and sometimes their free surface may have microvilli, is commonly found in:
A. Lining of stomach and intestine ✓ Correct
B. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of nephrons in the kidneys
C. Ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys
D. Walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs
Solution: Simple columnar epithelium (tall cells, basal nuclei, microvilli) lines the stomach and intestine for secretion and absorption.
Q22 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
Ciliated epithelium are commonly found in:
A. Ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys
B. Bronchioles and fallopian tubes ✓ Correct
C. Lining of stomach and intestine
D. Walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs
Solution: Ciliated columnar/cuboidal epithelium lines bronchioles and fallopian tubes, moving mucus or particles in a specific direction.
Q23 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The inner surface of hollow organs are lined by
A. squamous epithelium
B. compound epithelium
C. columnar epithelium ✓ Correct
D. ciliated epithelium
Solution: Simple columnar epithelium lines the inner surface of hollow visceral organs like the stomach and intestine.
Q24 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The ciliated epithelial cells are required to move particles or mucus in a specific direction. In humans, these cells are mainly present in
A. fallopian tubes and pancreatic duct
B. Eustachian tube and salivary duct
C. bile duct and bronchioles
D. bronchioles and fallopian tubes ✓ Correct
Solution: Ciliated epithelium is mainly present in the bronchioles and fallopian tubes.
Q25 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
Which of the following types of epithelium lines the walls of blood vessels?
A. Cuboidal epithelium
B. Squamous epithelium ✓ Correct
C. Columnar epithelium
D. Ciliated epithelium
Solution: Simple squamous epithelium (endothelium) lines the walls of blood vessels.
Q26 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
Efficient gaseous exchange in the air sacs of the lungs occurs due to the presence of
A. numerous microvilli
B. flat cells ✓ Correct
C. ciliated epithelium
D. columnar epithelium
Solution: The alveoli are lined by flat squamous cells, providing a thin barrier for efficient gaseous exchange.
Q27 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
The inner walls of large blood vessels are formed by
A. columnar epithelium
B. ciliated epithelium
C. squamous epithelium ✓ Correct
D. pseudostratified epithelium
Solution: The inner walls of large blood vessels are lined by simple squamous epithelium (endothelium).
Q28 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
What is the similarity between cuboidal epithelium and columnar epithelium?
A. They are composed of phagocytic cells.
B. All of these
C. They perform the functions of secretion and absorption. ✓ Correct
D. They are composed of two layers of cells.
Solution: Both simple cuboidal and simple columnar epithelia are involved in secretion and absorption.
Q29 — Epithelial Tissue · medium
Simple epithelium consists of
A. large intercellular spaces
B. single layer of cells ✓ Correct
C. all of these
D. flat cells without nucleus
Solution: Simple epithelium is composed of a single layer of cells.
Q30 — Epithelial Tissue · hard
How many characters for epithelial tissue are not correct from given characters?
(i) The squamous epithelium are found in the walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs.
(ii) Squamous epithelium are involved in functions like forming a diffusion boundary.
(iii) The cuboidal epithelium is commonly found in ducts of glands and tubular parts of nephrons in kidneys.
(iv) Functions of cuboidal epithelium are secretion and absorption.
(v) The epithelium of proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of nephron in the kidney has villi.
A. (i), (ii) and (iii)
B. (i), (iv) and (v)
C. (iv) and (v)
D. only (v) ✓ Correct
Solution: Statements (i)-(iv) are correct; only (v) is wrong because the PCT epithelium bears microvilli (not villi). So only (v) is not correct.