Definition

Relating to a type of tissue that covers the surfaces of the body and lines cavities and organs.

Example

The epithelial cells in the skin help protect the body from external damage.

Conversation

I just learned about epithelial cells in my biology class.

Oh, really? What are they all about?

They're the cells that line surfaces in the body, like skin and organs.

That's fascinating! I didn't know they had such important roles.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Epithelial → It is formed from "epi-" (meaning upon or over) and "thele" (from Greek "thēlē", meaning nipple or projection). The word "epithelial" refers to tissue that is situated upon or covering surfaces of the body, like skin or lining of organs.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'upon' ('epi-') a surface, like a layer of skin or lining — that's what epithelial tissue does.

Visually Confused Words