hepatic

[hi-pat-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to the liver.

2. acting on the liver, as a medicine.

3. liver-colored; dark reddish-brown.

4. Botany.,  belonging or pertaining to the liverworts.

noun

1. a medicine acting on the liver.

2. a liverwort.

hepatic

/ hɪˈpætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the liver

2. botany of or relating to the liverworts

3. having the colour of liver

noun

1. obsolete,  any of various drugs for use in treating diseases of the liver

2. a less common name for a liverwort

hepatic

1. Relating to or involving the liver.

Other Word Forms

• nonhepatic adjective
• posthepatic adjective
• subhepatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatic¹

1350–1400; Middle English epatik ≪ Latin hēpaticus < Greek hēpatikós. See hepato-, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatic¹

C15: from Latin hēpaticus, from Greek hēpar liver

Example Sentences

"This proved conclusive: the microrobots preferentially navigated the branches of the hepatic artery which were targeted by the algorithm and reached their destination."

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The new models offered a peek at the underlying pathology, illuminating the roles of hepatic stellate and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in the disease process.

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They also showed how Netrin-1 activates hepatic stellate cells, which are involved in liver fibrosis, a serious chronic disease, priming the liver as a host for cancer.

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Because they are cut off from their environment, the original Kupffer cells no longer act like hepatic immune cells.

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Her companion and only immediate survivor, James McCullar, said the cause was complications of hepatic cirrhosis.

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