intima

American  

[in-tuh-muh] / ˈɪn tə mə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

intimae

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

• intimal adjective
• subintimal adjective

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

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

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

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

During the third and fourth decades there is also distinct connective tissue thickening in the intima.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Warfield, Louis Marshall