Final answer:
Facilitated transport is a term used to describe the movement of substances directly through the cytoplasm of epithelial cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
One term for the movement of substances directly through the cytoplasm of epithelial cells is called facilitated transport.
In facilitated transport, material moves across the plasma membrane with the assistance of transmembrane proteins down a concentration gradient (from high to low concentration) without the expenditure of cellular energy. The substances that undergo facilitated transport would otherwise not diffuse easily or quickly across the plasma membrane.
For example, imagine a beaker with a semipermeable membrane separating two sides. On both sides of the membrane, the water level is the same, but there are different concentrations of dissolved substances. Facilitated transport allows for the movement of specific substances through transport proteins, such as channels and carriers, in the cell membrane.