epithelium
n. C / Un. a thin layer of cells that covers the outside of your body and lines your organs and cavities. It acts as a protective barrier and helps your body absorb things.
n. a layer of tissue that covers all internal and external surfaces of the body, including the skin and the lining of organs. It serves as a protective barrier and facilitates the absorption and secretion of substances.
The skin is the largest organ in the body and is made of epithelium.
The lining of the small intestine is a specialized epithelium designed to maximize the absorption of nutrients from food.
Damage to the respiratory epithelium can impair the body's ability to filter out airborne pathogens, leading to increased susceptibility to infections and chronic inflammation.
From New Latin epithēlium. By surface analysis, epi- + thel- + -ium.