Here's a breakdown:
* Epithelial tissue: This is the tissue type. It's classified based on the shape of the cells and the number of layers. Examples include:
* Squamous epithelium: Flattened cells, found in blood vessels and alveoli of the lungs.
* Cuboidal epithelium: Cube-shaped cells, found in glands and kidney tubules.
* Columnar epithelium: Tall, column-shaped cells, found in the lining of the stomach and intestines.
* Epithelial cells: These are the individual cells that make up epithelial tissue.
So, when someone refers to "epithelial cells," they are simply referring to the cells that make up epithelium, not a specific cell type.