1.
endothelium; inner skin (anatomy)
In anatomy and medicine, the thin layer of cells lining the inside of blood vessels, the heart, and other hollow organs. Contrasted with 外皮 (outer skin) and 中皮 (mesothelium).
血管内皮。
Vascular endothelium.
内皮細胞が傷つく。
The endothelial cells are damaged.
高血圧は血管の内皮に悪い影響を与える。
High blood pressure has a negative impact on the endothelium of blood vessels.
2.
inner rind; inner skin (of fruit, seeds, etc.)
In botany and cooking, the thin white or translucent membrane found just inside the outer peel of citrus fruits, chestnuts, and similar foods. Often removed for a better texture or flavor.
栗の内皮を剥く。
Peel the inner skin of the chestnut.
みかん}の{内皮には食物繊維が多く含まれている。
The inner skin of a mandarin orange contains a lot of dietary fiber.
料理人は丁寧に栗の内皮を取り除いてから煮る。
The chef carefully removes the inner skin of the chestnuts before simmering them.
Composed of 内 (inner) and 皮 (skin). A technical compound with parallel counterparts in 外皮 (outer skin), 中皮 (mesothelium), and 表皮 (epidermis).
USAGE:
The anatomical sense (sense 1) is the most common in writing — it appears in medical journals, health articles, and biology textbooks, often in combinations like 血管内皮 (vascular endothelium) or 内皮細胞 (endothelial cells). The culinary/botanical sense (sense 2) appears in cooking instructions and describes the thin inner membrane that must be removed from chestnuts, citrus fruits, and similar foods. Context makes clear which sense is intended.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 血管内皮: vascular endothelium
- 内皮細胞: endothelial cells
- 内皮機能: endothelial function
- 内皮を剥く: to peel off the inner skin (of a fruit)
- 栗の内皮: the inner skin of a chestnut
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 外皮: outer skin; peel — the direct antonym
- 表皮: epidermis — the outermost layer, especially of human skin
- 中皮: mesothelium — the cell layer lining body cavities
- 渋皮: the astringent inner skin (specifically of chestnuts) — more specific culinary term