capillary Hear it!

capillary Definition

cap·il·lary (kapə ler′ē; Brit kə pilə ri)

adjective

  1. of or like a hair, esp. in being very slender
  2. having a very small bore
  3. in or of capillaries

Etymology: L capillaris < capillus, hair

noun pl. -·lar′·ies

  1. a tube with a very small bore
  2. any of the tiny blood vessels normally connecting the smallest arteries (arterioles) with the smallest veins (venules)

capillary Synonyms

capillary

modif.

fine, hairlike, slender; see narrow 1, thin 2.

capillary Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dilate: These are not broken capillaries although everyone terms them as such, but rather permanently dilated capillaries.
  • strengthen: C also helps strengthen capillaries, prevent bruising and keeps gums strong and healthy.
  • surround: Tumors usually do not exceed 1 - 2 mm in diameter in order to be adequately supplied by surrounding capillaries.
  • build: Bioflavonoids work together with vitamin C to build strong capillaries and serve as antioxidants and as anti-inflammatory agents.
  • call: The blood is then spread through tiny vessels called capillaries which form a network.

Adjective modifier

  • glomerular: Explain that the blood vessel leaving a glomerulus is narrower than the one entering it and so pressure in the glomerular capillaries is high.
  • pulmonary: This process is normally complete by the time the blood has passed about one third of the way along the pulmonary capillary.
  • retinal: However, the view of the choroidal vessels and retinal capillaries is soon obscured by the rapid leakage of fluorescein from the choroidal vasculature.
  • broken: Broken capillaries, especially on the face are a cosmetic problem.
  • damaged: Phytonadione may help fade the appearance of dark circles by supporting healthy the damaged capillaries.
  • tiny: Cancer cells that have found their way into the blood stream can get stuck in the tiny capillaries of the lungs.

Modifies a noun

  • matting: A piece of capillary matting is then cut to fit the lid.
  • electrophoresis: The new service which uses the ABI PRISM 3100, a fluorescence-based DNA analysis system incorporating capillary electrophoresis with 16 capillaries operating in parallel.
  • rheometer: Capillary rheometers are highly valuable for simulating high shear rate conditions.
  • dynamolysis: It is thus difficult to discern what cocktail of tin complexes actually entered the paper during capillary dynamolysis.
  • rheometry: To obtain high shear rate data extrusion based methods are most appropriate, in particular capillary extrusion rheometry.
  • permeability: Exudate - the fluid plasma which leaks out of blood vessels due to an increase in capillary permeability.

Noun used with modifier

  • blood: In normal circumstances, fluid moves through the blood capillary wall into the interstitial tissues ( Stanton, 2000 ).
  • glass: Mercury thermometer A glass bulb filled with mercury is connected to a narrow evacuated glass capillary tube.
  • skin: The effect of high and low body temperatures on the diameter of skin capillaries and the production of sweat.