blood vessel

noun

1. any of the vessels, as arteries, veins, or capillaries, through which the blood circulates.

blood vessel

noun

1. an artery, capillary, or vein

blood vessel

1. An elastic tube or passage in the body through which blood circulates; an artery, a vein, or a capillary.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood vessel¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Minoxidil works by widening blood vessels and increasing blood flow around hair follicles, which can extend the growth phase of the hair cycle and stimulate new strands to develop.

Read more on Science Daily

Too much bad cholesterol can lead to a build-up of fatty deposits inside the walls of blood vessels, causing them to become narrowed or blocked.

Read more on BBC

Also, since the foetuses were attached to organs like the liver, kidneys and the intestines, they had to be extracted with great care so that no organs or blood vessels were damaged.

Read more on BBC

When the medics released the valve, it moved into the aorta, a blood vessel in the heart.

Read more on BBC

The BBC watched as he entered a full-body MRI scanner in an industrial park outside Reading, and detailed images of brain cells, blood vessels, bones and joints appeared on the screens.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• artery 
• capillary 
• vein