arterial

[ ahr-teer-ee-uhl ]

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.

noun

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

   funds to resurface the main arterials of the city.

arterial

/ 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

Derived Forms

• arˈterially, adverb

Other Words From

• ar·teri·al·ly adverb
• nonar·teri·al adjective
• postar·teri·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arterial¹

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

Example Sentences

Especially for people with Type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart or arterial disease, he says that these new drugs seem to be a big upgrade over previous medications.

From Time

He had four major surgeries to repair arterial damage, broken bones, and spinal cord damage, and then he spent another 10 months in the hospital and rehab before returning home.

From MIT Technology Review

Many highways appeared to be plowed and pretreated, but snow was piling up on major arterials and side roads, according to traffic cameras.

From Washington Post

Many highways in the Washington area were plowed and pretreated, but traffic cameras showed snow piled up on some major arterials and side roads.

From Washington Post

Over time, the theory goes, inflammation causes trouble—plaques and less pliable arterial walls.

From The Daily Beast

Heavy lacerations, arterial bleeding, left leg and left arm.

From The Daily Beast

By respiration the black venous blood is transformed into red arterial blood and regenerated.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew, also, that the pulmonary veins conducted arterial blood, and that the pericardium was a shut sac.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1687 Cowper saw the passage of the arterial into the venous current in the mesentery of a cat.

From Project Gutenberg

A sample of the dog's arterial blood contained ten per cent of acetylene.

From Project Gutenberg

The heart has a pair of venous ostia, often blending into one, and an anterior arterial aorta.

From Project Gutenberg