The integumentary system consists of skin which inturn contains
tissues that may be simple or stratified epithelial. The primary
difference between the two is their structure.
Simple epithelium consists of only one layer of cells but
stratified epithelium is made up of many layers of cells stacked
one on top of the other.
In simple epithelium, all cells are attached to the basal
membrane but in stratified epithelium, only basal layer of cells
are attached to basal membrane.
Simple epithelium is present in places where absorption and
diffusion happen but stratified epithelium is present in places
where protection is the main function.