collateral circulation

noun

1. circulation of blood through a network of minor vessels that become enlarged and joined with adjacent vessels when a major vein or artery is impaired, as by obstruction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of collateral circulation¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

“Your heart can actually form its own bypass from exercising, so you can develop that collateral circulation,” she said.

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“If you have coronary heart disease, even a little bit, which we all get as part of the aging process, if you are regularly exercising, your body will develop all of these blood vessels - that’s collateral circulation. That can actually help sustain life and prevent you from having a heart attack.”

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They all had a proximal vessel occlusion, a small infarct core, and moderate-to-good collateral circulation.

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When an artery becomes obliterated, whether from embolism or thrombosis, the part which it supplies should be surrounded with cotton wool and every effort made to favor the establishment of the collateral circulation.

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The degree of mechanical obstruction is determined by the nature of the thrombus, whether parietal or obstructing, and by that of the vessel, whether provided with anastomoses sufficient to permit a compensatory collateral circulation or not.

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