/ɛpɪsaɪt/; /ɛˈpaɪsaɪt/ (ep-ih-sye-tey, ep-i-sight)

Definitions

1. noun

A cell type found in certain epithelial tissues, especially the epidermis and the inner lining of the mouth and the anus.

“The epicytes in the skin played an essential role in wound healing.”

2. noun

More broadly, a cell that undergoes a process of cellular differentiation to become one type of epithelial cell from another.

“The epicyte’s ability to differentiate into various cell types is crucial for tissue homeostasis.”