epithelium noun. [ɛpɪ'Ɵi:lɪǝm] Pl. -lia [-lɪǝ]. M18.
[mod. Latin, from EPI- + Greek thēlē teat, nipple + -IUM.]
1. Anatomy. Tissue of the kind that covers the surface of the body and lines some hollow structures in humans and animals, consisting of sheets of cells bound closely together without intervening connective tissue; a particular kind or portion of such tissue. M18.
2. Botany. A layer of glandular cells such as those which line resin and gum canals. M19.

■ epithelial adjective of, pertaining to, or of the nature of epithelium M19.

■ epitheliali'zation noun = epithelization M20.

■ epithelioid adjective resembling epithelium or epithelial cells L19.

■ ,epitheli'oma noun, pl. -mas, -mata [-mǝtǝ], a tumour of epithelial tissue, esp. a malignant tumour of squamous epithelium, a squamous-cell carcinoma L19.

■ ,epitheli'omatous adjective affected with or of the nature of an epithelioma L19.

■ ,epitheli'osis noun a condition marked by a proliferation of epithelial cells M20.

■ epithelization [,ɛpɪƟi:lʌɪ'zeɪʃ(ǝ)n] noun the process of becoming covered with or converted into epithelium M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲