Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Epithelium stratificatum cuboideum
An uncommon epithelium of usually two layers of cuboidal cells, lining the ducts of sweat glands and larger ducts of salivary, mammary and pancreatic glands.
Overview
Typically only two cell layers thick, with cuboidal surface cells, it forms a sturdier lining than a single layer while still allowing some transport. It is the classic lining of the ducts of eccrine sweat glands, which reabsorb Na⁺ and Cl⁻ to make sweat hypotonic, and of the larger excretory ducts of salivary, mammary and pancreatic glands. It also lines part of the male urethra and, in growing ovarian follicles, the multilayered granulosa cells are sometimes described in these terms.
- Location
Ducts of sweat glands; larger ducts of salivary glands, mammary gland and pancreas; part of the male urethra.
Function
- Protection of ducts.
- Limited secretion and absorption (e.g. NaCl reabsorption in sweat ducts).
Clinical significance
Sweat chloride test
In cystic fibrosis, defective CFTR in the sweat-duct epithelium prevents Cl⁻ (and therefore Na⁺) reabsorption; sweat Cl⁻ ≥ 60 mmol/L is diagnostic.
Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Cells & Tissues sources. For education only; not medical advice.