The two general classes of epithelial tissue, which are distinguished from one another by the organization of the cells in layers, are and

The two general classes of epithelial tissue, distinguished by the organization of the cells in layers, are simple epithelium and stratified epithelium.

1. Simple Epithelium: This type of epithelial tissue is composed of a single layer of cells. It is further divided into four types based on the shape of the cells: simple squamous (flat cells), simple cuboidal (cube-like cells), simple columnar (tall, cylindrical cells), and pseudostratified columnar (appear to be in layers due to the varying levels of the nuclei, but are actually a single layer).

2. Stratified Epithelium: This type of epithelial tissue is composed of multiple layers of cells. It is more durable than simple epithelium, making it ideal for areas of the body that experience a lot of wear and tear. It is further divided into three types based on the shape of the cells: stratified squamous (flat cells), stratified cuboidal (cube-like cells), and stratified columnar (tall, cylindrical cells).