First Known Use: 1748
Dictionary
epithelium
noun ep·i·the·li·um \ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-əm\
plural ep·i·the·lia\-lē-ə\
Definition of EPITHELIUM
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
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Origin of EPITHELIUM
New Latin, from epi- + Greek thēlē nipple — more at feminine
Medical Dictionary
epithelium
noun ep·i·the·li·um \ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əm\
plural ep·i·the·lia \-lē-ə\
Medical Definition of EPITHELIUM
: 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
Illustration of EPITHELIUM
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