arterial

[ahr-teer-ee-uh l]

adjective

Physiology. pertaining to the blood in the pulmonary vein, in the left side of the heart, and in most arteries, having been oxygenated during its passage through the lungs and being normally bright red.

Anatomy. of, relating to, or resembling the arteries.

being or constituting a main route, channel, or other course of flow or access, often with many branches: an arterial highway; an arterial drainage system.

noun

a main route, channel, or other course of flow or access: funds to resurface the main arterials of the city.

Origin of arterial

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin artēriālis. See artery, -al¹

Related formsar·te·ri·al·ly, adverbnon·ar·te·ri·al, adjectivepost·ar·te·ri·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arterial

Contemporary Examples of arterial

Heavy lacerations, arterial bleeding, left leg and left arm.
Friends on the Line: Excerpt from Brian Mockenhaupt’s “The Living and the Dead”
Brian Mockenhaupt
November 21, 2012

Historical Examples of arterial

In the arterial system it also ebbed and flowed, and might be seen and felt to pulsate there.
The Legacy of Greece
Various
Then we see wisdom just as much in the venous system, as in the arterial.
Philosophy of Osteopathy
Andrew T. Still
A notable diminution of arterial pressure has been observed.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection
Alexander Wynter Blyth
It may be noted that arterial anomalies are extremely frequent.
The Criminal
Havelock Ellis
Its shape has been discovered by deep borings in search of arterial waters.
The Argentine Republic
Pierre Denis

British Dictionary definitions for arterial

arterial

adjective

of, relating to, or affecting an artery or arteriesarterial disease

denoting or relating to the usually bright red reoxygenated blood returning from the lungs or gills that circulates in the arteries

being a major route, esp one with many minor branchesan arterial road

Derived Formsarterially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for arterial

adj.

early 15c., from French artérial (Modern French artériel), from Latin arteria; see artery.

arterial in Medicine

arterial

[är-tîr′ē-əl]

adj.

Of or relating to one or more arteries or to the entire system of arteries.

Of, relating to, or being the bright red oxygenated blood in the arteries.

Related formsar•te′ri•al•ly adv.

arterial in Science

artery

[är′tə-rē]

Any of the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Arteries are flexible, elastic tubes with muscular walls that expand and contract to pump blood through the body.

Related formsarterial adjective (är-tîr′ē-əl)