arterial

American  

[ahr-teer-ee-uhl] / ɑrˈtɪər i əl /

adjective

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

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noun

1. a main route, channel, or other course of flow or access.

   funds to resurface the main arterials of the city.

arterial British  

/ ɑːˈtɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting an artery or arteries

   arterial disease

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

3. being a major route, esp one with many minor branches

   an arterial road

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Other Word Forms

• arterially
  adverb
• nonarterial
  adjective
• postarterial
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of arterial

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin artēriālis. See artery, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Arterial stiffness can potentially be reduced with further drugs, as can insulin resistance.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2026

Arterial stiffness indicates damage to the blood vessels.

From The Guardian • Aug. 28, 2018

She served on the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission for 12 years and had a hand in building the Northwest Arterial and four-lane road access to Dubuque.

From Washington Times • Oct. 10, 2016

Arterial shunt vessels may bypass the network in ears, the nose and fingertips.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Arterial Angioma or Cirsoid Aneurysm.—This is composed of the enlarged branches of an arterial trunk.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis