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Glite Dictionary
epithelial cell

epithelial cell

5 5.0
A cell that forms a thin layer covering body surfaces and inner organs
  • noun
  • /ˌɛpɪˈθiːliəl sɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : célula epitelial
  • Thymoma is a neoplasm arising from the epithelial cells of the thymus.
  • bronchial epithelial cells
  • renal epithelial cells
  • alveolar epithelial cells

The intestine is made-up of cells, intestinal epithelial cells that are bound together and they're bound with proteins that basically form a barrier.

Examples

  • It starts with a normal epithelial cell in a duct in the pancreas.

  • Interestingly, the authors also report reduced levels of A20 in bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatic patients.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Look in the background of this shot, the walls here, they are squamous epithelial cells, the ones we find in the mouth.

  • In five of the nine cases, we obtained epithelial cells in the washings.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The epithelial/connective tissue junction remained intact, and individual epithelial cell relationships were maintained.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Yanagisawa et al. suggested that chronic inflammation is associated with an acceleration in epithelial cell turnover.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Signals originating from epithelial cells and indicating an intact, healthy barrier limit immune cell activation.

    Academic text (2016)

  • EphB4 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed on epithelial cells during fetal life.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The small intestinal mucosal epithelial cells appeared to disperse outwards, indicative of compromised structural integrity.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The virus invades the epithelial cells that form the lining of the small intestine.

Surface Forms

epithelial cell singular
epithelial cells plural

Morphology

epithelial + cell

The meaning 'a cell that forms or is part of the epithelium' is directly and compositionally derived from 'epithelial' (relating to the tissue lining surfaces) + 'cell' (microscopic living unit). This adjective+noun pattern is a standard, transparent formation and has clear parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Epithelial cell joins the parts epithelial, which means 'on the surface', and cell, which means a 'small unit', so imagine tiny tiles covering the surface of your skin. Each tile is an epithelial cell that forms a protective layer, so the term means a cell that 'lines' and protects body surfaces.