epithelium

Term: epithelium

Origin: Anc Greek επί/epi(=on, upon)
+θηλή/theli(=nipple) à literally means “on nipple because originally this word meant only the skin on the breast which is not which identical to the epidermis. In literal translation it is a misnomer.

Coined: 
By Frederik Ruysch who used the term "epithelia" in his work "Thesaurus Anatomicus in 1703. The term "epithelium" was adopted later by Albrecht von Haller. 


Definition:
1.      (histology) Epithelium is one of the basic tissues that represents a layer of cells that line hollow organs and glands and the outer surface of the body and which is specialized for absorptive, secretory, protective, or sensory activities.
2.      The lining of either a resin canal in gymnosperms or of a gum duct in dicotyledons.

No comments:

Post a Comment