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.

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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

To model this, the team exposed mice to radiation that damaged their intestinal epithelial cells.

From Science Daily • Jan. 3, 2026

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 • Nov. 19, 2025

A preprint out this week indicates currently circulating clade 2.3.4.4b viruses are better at binding to human epithelial cells in the airways than previous versions of H5N1.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 5, 2024

"Using this comparative model, we were then able to trace down the piezo-positive mechanosensory neurons and taste receptor-expressing epithelial cells in digging sea robins that were absent in the non-digging species."

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2024

Rather, the article said, it was “a very aggressive adenocarcinoma of the cervix,” meaning it originated from glandular tissue in her cervix instead of epithelial tissue.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot