ep·i·the·li·um
| \ ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-əm
\
\
plural epithelia\
ˌe-pə-ˈthē-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
Examples of epithelium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At first, researchers wondered if the coronavirus was infecting nerves in the olfactory epithelium, a patch of tissue high in the nose near the base of the brain that helps people to smell.
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Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 July 2021
Damage to the epithelium lining the trachea and bronchi can result in the loss of protective mucus-producing cells as well as the tiny hairs, or cilia, that sweep dirt and respiratory secretions out of the lungs.
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Jason Gale, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2020
As part of that work, the lab sequenced cells in the epithelium — a sheet of neurons and supporting cells lining the upper nasal cavities — and olfactory bulb of mice to determine what RNA each cell expressed.
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New York Times, 28 Jan. 2021
Disruption of the olfactory epithelium could explain the loss of smell.
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Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 18 Nov. 2020
Their epithelium, or nasal tissue, is about 30 times larger than ours.
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Ellen Furlong, chicagotribune.com, 27 Oct. 2020
The key actions produced by the initial injury and wound epithelium also remain mysterious.
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Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2020
When someone takes a big sniff, molecules travel up the nose to the olfactory epithelium, a small piece of tissue at the back of the nasal cavity.
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Sara Harrison, National Geographic, 5 Aug. 2020
The first requirement for limb regeneration is the presence of a wound, and formation of wound epithelium.
—
Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'epithelium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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11 Jul 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Epithelium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epithelium. Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
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More Definitions for epithelium
epithelium
noun
ep·i·the·li·um
| \ ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əm
\
\
plural epithelia\
-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
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Time Traveler for epithelium
The first known use of epithelium was in 1748
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