also: じょうひ
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
outer layer; skin; bark; rind; crust; film; scum
Only with reading うわかわ
General term for the outermost layer of something: skin of fruit, bark of a tree, crust of bread, film on liquid, etc. Read as うわかわ.
パンの上皮がパリパリしていておいしい。
The crust of the bread is crispy and delicious.
Please remove the film on the milk.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
epithelium
Anatomical term for the tissue covering body surfaces and cavities. Usually read じょうひ, but うわかわ is also possible in medical contexts.
上皮細胞は体の表面を覆っている。
Epithelial cells cover the surface of the body.
Compound of 上 (うわ, 'upper') + 皮 (かわ, 'skin'). The reading じょうひ is the on'yomi version used in medical terminology.