Final answer:
A cystic mass that includes epithelial cells and cholesterol is often called a cholesterol cyst or epidermoid cyst, typically benign and containing keratin and cholesterol. Cholesterol is also a crucial part of cell membranes and the formation of chylomicrons for lipid transport in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cystic mass consisting of epithelial cells and cholesterol is typically referred to as a cholesterol cyst or epidermoid cyst. These formations are generally noncancerous and filled with keratin, a protein involved in skin structure, and frequently cholesterol.
In biology, the epithelial cells lining cysts can be of various types, including simple columnar epithelium, stratified cuboidal epithelium, or pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Cholesterol plays many roles in the body, including being a component of the cell membrane (as reinforced by molecules like hopene in prokaryotes) and participating in the formation of chylomicrons, which are lipoproteins involved in fat transport within the body.