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.

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intima British  

/ ˈɪntɪmə /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intimal
  adjective
• subintimal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• intimae
  plural

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intima

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

Arteries, arterioles, venules, and veins are composed of three tunics known as the tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica externa.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The tunica intima is a thin layer composed of a simple squamous epithelium known as endothelium and a small amount of connective tissue.

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

The vascularization of thrombi surrounded by unbroken walls is most likely to result from the extension into the thickened intima of new-formed branches of the vasa vasorum.

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

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