The ________ is absent from the epidermis in most of the body.

A. bulb:The bulb is the enlarged base of the hair where active cell division occurs, producing the hair shaft, but it is not the entire oblique epithelial tube.

B. vellus:Vellus refers to fine, pale hair covering most of the body in children and adult females. It describes the type of hair, not the structure in which hair grows.

C. hair root:The hair root is the portion of the hair beneath the surface of the skin, extending from the bulb to the point where the hair emerges, but it is contained within the follicle rather than being the whole tube.

D. pilus:Pilus is a general term for a hair shaft or hair in Latin, but it does not refer specifically to the oblique epithelial tube structure that surrounds hair growth.

E. hair follicle:The hair follicle is the oblique epithelial tube that surrounds the hair root and bulb. It anchors the hair into the skin and provides the environment for hair growth and regeneration.

A. simple cuboidal epithelium:Simple cuboidal epithelium is commonly found in glands and kidney tubules where secretion and absorption occur. It does not line blood vessels or play a role in preventing clot formation.

B. transitional epithelium:Transitional epithelium is specialized for stretching and is found in the urinary bladder and ureters. It is not present in blood or lymphatic vessels, so it does not influence clot prevention.

C. mesothelium:Mesothelium lines body cavities such as the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. Its function is to reduce friction between organs, not to maintain smooth blood flow within vessels.

D. endothelium:Endothelium is the thin layer of simple squamous epithelium lining blood and lymphatic vessels. A healthy endothelium provides a smooth, non-thrombogenic surface that prevents clots from adhering to the vessel wall.