Final answer:
Stratified columnar epithelium under a microscope reveals multiple layers of elongated cells with nuclei in a row near the base. It is distinct from pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which is a single layer that appears stratified due to the varied nuclear positioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under a microscope, stratified columnar epithelium would appear as layers of elongated and pillar-like cells. You would be able to see that the tissue consists of several layers, with the cells' nuclei typically aligned in a row close to the base of the cells, giving an ordered stack-like appearance to the layers.
Unlike pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which actually consists of a single layer of cells with nuclei at various levels creating an illusion of stratification, stratified columnar truly has multiple layers of cells. Stratified columnar epithelia are less common and are found in areas like the conjunctiva of the eye, large ducts of some glands, and parts of the pharynx. It's important to distinguish this from simple columnar and pseudostratified epithelia, both of which are made of a single layer of cells but differ in the arrangement of their nuclei and cell heights.