Two-Layered Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium-Ductus Epididymis

In a two-layered Pseudostratified epithelium, all cells originate at the basal membrane. However, not all epithelial cells extend to the surface; the cells have different heights. In this epithelial cell arrangement, the cell nuclei are located at different heights from the basal membrane. This creates the picture of two bands of nuclei (two-layered epithelium). The dark nuclei of basal cells 1 and the lighter, oval nuclei of high columnar cells 2 can be recognized. High columnar cells have long, partially branched microvilli, which stick together at their ends and form spiked stereocilia tops 3 (sperm duct stereocilia),. Stereocilia are modified microvilli and contain microfilament bundles.

1 Basal cell nuclei                                                 3 Stereocilia

2 Pseudostratified columnar epithelium cells     4 Connective tissue

Stain: iron hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: × 180 .

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .