intima

American  

[in-tuh-muh] / ˈɪn tə mə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

intimae

1. the innermost membrane or lining of some organ or part, especially that of an artery, vein, or lymphatic.

---

intima British  

/ ˈɪntɪmə /

noun

1. anatomy zoology the innermost layer of an organ or part, esp of a blood vessel

---

Other Word Forms

• intimal adjective
• subintimal adjective

Etymology

Origin of intima

1870–75; < New Latin, noun use of feminine of Latin intimus, intumus inmost, equivalent to in- in- ² + -timus superlative suffix; optimal, ultimate

Example Sentences

These mimic the layered structure of the native vascular wall, which, from inside out, is composed of the tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia tissues.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2024

Like the other components of the tunica intima, the internal elastic membrane provides structure while allowing the vessel to stretch.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Farther from the heart, where the surge of blood has dampened, the percentage of elastic fibers in an artery’s tunica intima decreases and the amount of smooth muscle in its tunica media increases.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The result of the thickening and roughening of the intima is to impede, or even stop, the passage of blood through the artery in which the condition exists.

From Time Magazine Archive

He remarks also that he observed hyaline degeneration of the intima of arteries in the spleen.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various