endothelium

noun

en·​do·​the·​li·​um ˌen-də-ˈthē-lē-əm 

-dō-

plural endothelia ˌen-də-ˈthē-lē-ə 

-dō-

1

: an epithelium of mesodermal origin composed of a single layer of thin flattened cells that lines internal body cavities and the lumens of vessels

2

: the inner layer of the seed coat of some plants

endothelial

ˌen-də-ˈthē-lē-əl 

-dō-

adjective

Examples of endothelium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mamta Jain, $2.5 million for screening, treatment and prevention of Hepatocellular Cancer-Hepatitis C. Lance S. Terada, $1.05 million for autophagy and tumor endothelium. —Dallas News, 16 Feb. 2023

The root of the problem is that even small amounts of the chemicals in cigarette smoke cause rapid inflammation in the endothelium, or lining, of blood vessels and in the lungs. —Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 10 Dec. 2010

Ramasamy and his researchers have found evidence of the virus remaining within the endothelial cells of penile tissue as much as seven months after infection, which suggests that direct damage to cavernosal endothelium may affect erectile function. —Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2022

There is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that COVID affects the vascular endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, according to cardiologist Bernard Gersh, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. —Mariana Lenharo, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2022

The Covid-19 virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, damages or inflames the endothelium, which is the innermost single layer of cells lining blood vessels. —Suryatapa Bhattacharya, WSJ, 10 Dec. 2021

Those reveal that the virus warps a critical piece of our vascular infrastructure: the single layer of cells lining the inside of every blood vessel, known as the endothelial cells or simply the endothelium. —Will Stone Kaiser Health News, Star Tribune, 21 Nov. 2020

Medical experts believe that the virus is able to infect the endothelium, or the internal layer of blood vessels, and can catch a ride to any organ in the body. —Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2020

Abnormalities in the endothelium, or inner lining, of these smaller vessels can cause spasms, resulting in pain and diminished blood flow to the heart. —Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from end- + -thelium (as in epithelium)

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

endothelium

noun

en·​do·​the·​li·​um ˌen-də-ˈthē-lē-əm 

plural endothelia -lē-ə 

: an epithelium of mesoblastic origin composed of a single layer of thin flattened cells that lines internal body cavities (as the serous cavities or the interior of the heart)