Adjacent Words

epithelium definitions

	Tweet

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body [syn: epithelium, epithelial tissue]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural epithelia) Etymology: New Latin, from epi- + Greek th?l? nipple — more at feminine Date: 1748 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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. epitheliums or epithelia) the tissue forming the outer layer of the body surface and lining many hollow structures. Derivatives: epithelial adj. Etymology: mod.L f. EPI- + Gk thele teat

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Epithelium Ep`i*the"li*um, n.; pl. E. Epitheliums, L. Epithelia. [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + ? nipple.] (Anat.) The superficial layer of cells lining the alimentary canal and all its appendages, all glands and their ducts, blood vessels and lymphatics, serous cavities, etc. It often includes the epidermis (i. e., keratin-producing epithelial cells), and it is sometimes restricted to the alimentary canal, the glands and their appendages, -- the term endothelium being applied to the lining membrane of the blood vessels, lymphatics, and serous cavities.