epithelium
noun
ep·i·the·li·um
ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-əm 
plural epithelia
ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-ə
1
: a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves especially to enclose and protect the other parts of the body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to function in assimilation
2
: a usually thin layer of parenchyma that lines a cavity or tube of a plant
Examples of epithelium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of the body's immune cells are found in the connective tissues of the small intestines, just beneath the epithelium.
—
Mark Gurarie, Health, 6 Nov. 2024
To their surprise, the cells self-assembled into a network of layers that resembled the retina pigment epithelium and its vasculature.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
In the nose, expression is seen in both the respiratory epithelium (RE) and the olfactory sensory epithelium (OSE) but in much higher levels in the OSE.
—Leslie Kay, Scientific American, 13 June 2020
So might anatomical responses to those changes, such as the effect of colder or drier air on mucous membranes and the epithelium of the respiratory tract.
—WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for epithelium 
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Mark Gurarie, Health, 6 Nov. 2024
To their surprise, the cells self-assembled into a network of layers that resembled the retina pigment epithelium and its vasculature.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
In the nose, expression is seen in both the respiratory epithelium (RE) and the olfactory sensory epithelium (OSE) but in much higher levels in the OSE.
—Leslie Kay, Scientific American, 13 June 2020
So might anatomical responses to those changes, such as the effect of colder or drier air on mucous membranes and the epithelium of the respiratory tract.
—WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for epithelium
Dictionary Entries Near epithelium
Cite this Entry
“Epithelium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epithelium. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epithelium
noun
ep·i·the·li·um
ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əm
plural epithelia
-lē-ə
1
: a tissue like a membrane that is made up of cells and covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body
2
: a usually thin layer of cells of a plant that is part of the parenchyma and lines a cavity or tube
epithelial
adjective
-lē-əl
Medical Definition
epithelium
noun
ep·i·the·li·um
ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əm
plural epithelia
-lē-ə
: a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves especially to enclose and protect the other parts of the body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to function in assimilation
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