| Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium contains cuboidal or columnar cells at the basement membrane that divide by mitosis to form all of the rest of the cells above them. As the layers increase in number, the cells become squamous (flat) and approach the cavity surface. They provide protection for cavities with moist linings that are open to the outside world (like the vagina, rectum, nasal cavity, uterus, esophagus, and the ear canal). This is not the answer that I was looking for, however! Lets return to the original question. |