epithelial

[ep-uh-thee-lee-uhl]

adjective

1. Biology.,  being or relating to an epithelium, any tissue that lines a cavity or covers a surface in an animal or plant.

   Cheek epithelial cells are often studied in school labs as they are easily obtained through a mouth rinse or swab.

Other Word Forms

• interepithelial adjective
• nonepithelial adjective
• subepithelial adjective
• unepithelial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epithelial¹

First recorded in 1935–40; epitheli(um) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

This limitation is crucial, he added, because the interior of each cyst -- essentially a sealed chamber lined with epithelial cells -- is the location where disease-driving activity occurs.

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These include hormonal cancers like uterine cancer, as well as epithelial cancers, such as some types of liver cancer.

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The researchers also provide the first genetic and mechanistic evidence of how this intestinal epithelial expansion occurs in mothers, with direct implications for the transgenerational health of the babies.

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Using single-cell sequencing and spatial mapping, the researchers specifically investigated breast epithelial cells.

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The fungus infects bats through the epithelial cells of their skin without significantly damaging the cells themselves, the study finds.

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