epithelial

adjective

ep·​i·​the·​li·​al ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-əl How to pronounce epithelial (audio)
: of or relating to epithelium
intestinal epithelial cells
epithelial ovarian cancer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web That means the company can start a fresh clinical trial early next year for the drug candidate, which aims to treat a disease called persistent corneal epithelial defect. Charley Grant, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2022 According to a press release, the nose and airway are lined with epithelial tissue consisting mainly of three cell types: basal cells, goblet cells and multiciliated cells, which make up about 80% of all cells in the nasal epithelium. Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Jan. 2023 Scientists analyzed samples of olfactory epithelial tissue, where smell cells live, from 24 biopsies, nine of which were from post-covid patients struggling with persistent loss of smell. Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2022 Metastatic carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in epithelial tissue and has spread to other parts of the body. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2014 Within your respiratory tract, the epithelial cells lining your airways and lungs serve as the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens and debris. Hayley Muendlein, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022 The company has turned human embryonic stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells, which will be surgically implanted into the eye. Eliza Strickland, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2010 Jackson and his colleagues zoomed in on two structures found on multiciliated epithelial cells: cilia and microvilli. Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Jan. 2023 For the new study, the scientists first wanted to see what happened when epithelial cells were introduced to a virus-like challenge. Maggie Chen, WIRED, 2 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'epithelial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of epithelial was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near epithelial

Cite this Entry

“Epithelial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epithelial. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

epithelial

adjective
ep·​i·​the·​li·​al ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əl How to pronounce epithelial (audio)
: of or relating to epithelium
epithelial cells

More from Merriam-Webster on epithelial

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