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tunica

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

noun

Anatomy, Zoology, Botany.

plural

tunicae
  1. a tunic.


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

"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

Etymology

Origin of tunica

< New Latin, special use of Latin tunica tunic

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

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

What is the function of the tunica externa and why is it thicker in the artery than in the vein?

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

The dress of the monks consisted of a white tunica or undergarment, over which they wore a camilla, consisting of a body and hood made of wool, and of the natural colour of the material.

From Scottish Cathedrals and Abbeys by Butler, Dugald