capillaries

Cultural  

1. The tiny blood vessels throughout the body that connect arteries and veins. Capillaries form an intricate network around body tissues in order to distribute oxygen and nutrients to the cells and remove waste substances. (See circulatory system.)

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Example Sentences

“It’s searing pain from all the lactic acid. It floods your system. You blow capillaries in your eyes, you throw up after races,” said Cheek, now an NBC analyst.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

If done properly, it's unlikely to cause you any harm, but Tina warns that "too much pressure can cause bruising or broken capillaries, so be gentle".

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

In untreated fish, one of the most striking signs of kidney decline was the gradual loss of capillaries, a process known as vascular rarefaction.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

Researchers hope these artificial capillaries will aid in the development of better snakebite treatments while lowering the dependence on animal models.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 5, 2024

The mosaic thickens and throws more clots, and the clots drift through the bloodstream into the small capillaries, where they get stuck.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston