Which statement is true about transitional epithelium?

• A. Transitional epithelium can stretch and distend; umbrella cells enable this.
• B. Transitional epithelium is non-stretchable.
• C. Transitional epithelium is primarily keratinized.
• D. Transitional epithelium lines the oral cavity.

Answer: (B)

Transitional epithelium is specialized to stretch as the bladder fills. The surface cells, known as umbrella cells, are large and can change shape—unfolding and flattening—to accommodate increasing volume while preserving a tight, impermeable barrier. This distensible property is what lets the urinary tract expand without leaking. It’s not keratinized, and it lines the urinary system rather than the oral cavity. So, the true idea is that transitional epithelium can stretch and distend, with umbrella cells enabling that expansion.