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

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

From Salon

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.

From Science Daily

Navin points out that epithelial cells, which line and cover the inside and outside of the body, are the cells that are believed to give rise to cancer.

From Science Daily

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

From Salon

One of the antibodies, FluB-400, broadly inhibited virus replication in laboratory cultures of human respiratory epithelial cells.

From Science Daily