Final answer:
Epithelial tissues are classified by cell shape (squamous, cuboidal, or columnar) and cell layer arrangement (simple, stratified, pseudostratified, and transitional), with the correct classification parameters being cell type and arrangement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Epithelial tissues are primarily classified according to two key parameters: the shape of the cells and the number of cell layers formed. There are three typical cell shapes:
- Squamous (flattened and thin)
- Cuboidal (boxy, as wide as it is tall)
- Columnar (rectangular, taller than it is wide)
When it comes to cell layer arrangements, epithelial tissues can be:
- Simple epithelium: A single layer where every cell rests on the basal lamina.
- Stratified epithelium: Multiple layers where only the basal layer of cells rests on the basal lamina.
- Pseudostratified: Appears like more than one layer but actually consists of a single layer of irregularly shaped cells.
- Transitional: Specialized stratified epithelium where the shape of cells can vary.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C) Cell type and arrangement.