See: epithelium. ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
a general name for tissues not derived from the mesoderm.
forming the outer layer of body surface....
Type: Term See: epithelium
(ep;u1-the;le-al) One of the four basic tissue types; the type of tissue that covers or lines all exposed body surfaces.
The skin tissue that covers the outside and inside of the body. It covers all the body organs and lines all the tubes and cavities of the body. Cancers of epithelial tissue are called carcinomas.