epithelial

American  

[ep-uh-thee-lee-uhl] / ˌɛp əˈθi li əl /

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

Etymology

Origin of epithelial

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

Example Sentences

The epithelial cells have the ability to constrict to change the absorption of light, controlling the subject’s color and texture on a cell-by-bell basis.

From Literature

"They're able to absorb nutrients better. They have much less inflammation. When irritated or injured, their epithelial lining is able to regenerate and heal much faster."

From Science Daily

In a study published in Cell Stem Cell, scientists tested retinal pigment epithelial stem cells in a phase 1/2a clinical trial.

From Science Daily

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.

From Science Daily

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

From Salon