The plural form of epithelium; the layer(s) of cells that cover body surfaces and line internal organs.
Plural of epithelium, from Greek epi- (upon) + thele (nipple). Originally named because these tissues covered the body like a skin, with the nipple-like protrusions being the first recognized structures.
Your entire body—inside and out—is wrapped in epithelia: your skin is stratified squamous epithelium, your stomach is lined with simple columnar epithelium, and your lungs use simple cuboidal epithelium to trade gases with air.
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