tunica

American  

[too-ni-kuh, tyoo-] / ˈtu nɪ kə, ˈtyu- /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology, Botany.

plural

tunicae

1. a tunic.

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tunica British  

/ ˈtjuːnɪkə /

noun

1. anatomy tissue forming a layer or covering of an organ or part, such as any of the tissue layers of a blood vessel wall

2. botany the outer layer or layers of cells of the meristem at a shoot tip, which produces the epidermis and cells beneath it Compare corpus

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Etymology

Origin of tunica

< New Latin, special use of Latin tunica tunic

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 externa prevents blood cell adhesion to the wall of the vessel.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The smooth muscle layers of the tunica media are supported by a framework of collagenous fibers that also binds the tunica media to the inner and outer tunics.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Specifically in arteries, vasoconstriction decreases blood flow as the smooth muscle in the walls of the tunica media contracts, making the lumen narrower and increasing blood pressure.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The outermost is the tunica adventitia, composed of connective tissue; immediately internal to this is the yellow elastic coat; within this again the muscular coat, formed of involuntary.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various