The tissue that forms the lining of the mouth, stomach, and skin surfaces is which type?

• A. Nervous tissue
• B. Epithelial tissue
• C. Muscle tissue
• D. Connective tissue

Answer: (B)

The tissue that forms lining and coverings is epithelial tissue. Epithelial cells create the protective linings of the mouth and stomach, and the outer layer of the skin as the epidermis. In the mouth, the lining is a stratified squamous epithelium that resists wear from chewing; in the stomach, it’s a simple columnar epithelium with mucus-secreting cells to protect the stomach wall. Epithelial tissue is typically avascular and sits on a basement membrane, with cells tightly joined to form continuous surfaces. Other tissue types—nervous, muscle, and connective—do not form these linings or coverings, so epithelial tissue is the correct choice.