capsule

capsule definition - medical

cap·sule (kăpˈsəl, -so͞ol)

noun
  1. A fibrous, membranous, or fatty sheath that encloses an organ or part, such as the sac surrounding the kidney or the fibrous tissues that surround a joint.
  2. A small soluble container, usually made of gelatin, that encloses a dose of an oral medicine or a vitamin.
  3. The thin-walled, spore-containing structure of mosses and related plants.

Related Forms:

  • capˈsu·lar (kăpˈsə-lər) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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