Stratified squamous epithelium is found in various locations in the body where protection is essential. It can be categorized into two main types:
Keratinized: Found in areas exposed to the external environment, such as the skin's epidermis. The cells in the outermost layer are dead and filled with keratin, a tough, protective protein. Non-Keratinized: Found in moist, internal surfaces such as the oral cavity, esophagus, vagina, and anus. These cells remain alive and do not have keratin.
