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intima

American  
[in-tuh-muh] / ˈɪn tə mə /

noun

Anatomy.
intimae plural
  1. the innermost membrane or lining of some organ or part, especially that of an artery, vein, or lymphatic.


intima British  
/ ˈɪntɪmə /

noun

  1. anatomy zoology the innermost layer of an organ or part, esp of a blood vessel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

Etymology

Origin of intima

1870–75; < New Latin, noun use of feminine of Latin intimus, intumus inmost, equivalent to in- in- 2 + -timus superlative suffix; cf. optimal, ultimate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These mimic the layered structure of the native vascular wall, which, from inside out, is composed of the tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia tissues.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2024

Like the other components of the tunica intima, the internal elastic membrane provides structure while allowing the vessel to stretch.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Lining the tunica intima is the specialized simple squamous epithelium called the endothelium, which is continuous throughout the entire vascular system, including the lining of the chambers of the heart.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The result of the thickening and roughening of the intima is to impede, or even stop, the passage of blood through the artery in which the condition exists.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the contrary, ossification of the fibrous inflammatory products of the pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum are instances of a pathological bone-formation, analogous in its nature to that met with in the intima of the aorta.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

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