pl. -·li·ums or -·lia
cellular tissue covering external body surfaces, as the epidermis, or lining internal surfaces, as hollow organs, vessels, etc.: it consists of one or more layers of cells with little intercellular material
Origin of epitheliumModern Latin ; from Classical Greek epi-, upon + th?l?, nipple: see female
nounpl. ep·i·the·li·a or ep·i·the·li·ums
Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.
Origin of epitheliumNew Latin epith&emacron;lium : epi– + Greek th&emacron;l&emacron;, nipple; see dh&emacron;(i)- in Indo-European roots.
(plural epitheliums or epithelia)
- (anatomy) A membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells which forms the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs: internally including the lining of vessels and other small cavities, and externally being the skin.
Modern Latin epithēlium, from Ancient Greek ἐπί (epi, “on, atop, epi-”) + θηλή (thēlē, “nipple”).