noun
epithelium
ep-ih-THEE-lee-um/ˌɛpɪθˈiljʌm/
Tissue that covers body surfaces and lines organs and cavities.
The epithelium lining the intestine absorbs nutrients from digested food.
Etymology
The pieces literally suggest “upon the nipple.” The modern anatomical sense is broader: a tissue layer covering body surfaces and lining cavities, rather than a covering limited to that one body part.
In context
Squam epithelium that lines these body cavities like the mesentary the small intestine the heart and the lungs it's called mesothelium
More examples
- The skin's outer layer consists of epithelium.
- Under the microscope, the epithelium appears as a sheet of cells.
- Some epithelia contain cells that secrete mucus.
Forms
epithelium · epithelia
epithelial adjective — Relating to tissue covering or lining surfaces.
Similar words
- epithelial tissue
- Names the same tissue in a more explicit phrase.