artery

ar·tery

noun \ˈär-tə-rē, ˈär-trē\

plural ar·ter·ies

Definition of ARTERY

1

: any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body

2

: a channel (as a river or highway) of transportation or communication; especially : the main channel in a branching system

Examples of ARTERY

1. He favors local side roads over major arteries.
2. <there's an accident on the main artery into town, so I'll be late>

Origin of ARTERY

Middle English arterie, from Latin arteria, from Greek artēria; akin to Greek aortē aorta

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ARTERY

Synonyms

arterial, way, avenue, boulevard, carriageway [British], drag, drive, expressway, freeway, high road, highway, pass, pike, road, roadway, route, row, street, thoroughfare, thruway, trace, turnpike

Related Words

causeway; autobahn, autoroute, autostrada, dual carriageway [chiefly British], interstate, motorway [chiefly British], superhighway; beltway, bypass, parkway, ring road [chiefly British]; corniche, switchback; through street; high street [British], Main Street; backstreet, branch, bystreet, byway, crossroad, secondary road, shunpike, side road, side street; alley, alleyway; circle, lane, laneway [British], mews [chiefly British], place; close [chiefly British], cul-de-sac, dead end; corridor; track, trail

Rhymes with ARTERY

martyry

ar·tery

noun \ˈärt-ə-rē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ar·ter·ies

Medical Definition of ARTERY

: any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body

Illustration of ARTERY

artery

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body (see cardiovascular system). Arterial blood carries oxygen and nourishment to tissues; the one exception is the pulmonary artery, which conveys oxygen-depleted blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and removal of excess carbon dioxide. Arteries are muscular, elastic tubes that transport blood under the pressure of the heart's pumping action, which can be felt as the pulse. Large arteries branch off from the aorta and give rise to smaller arteries, down to the threadlike arterioles, which branch into capillaries. An artery wall's inner layer (tunica intima) consists of an endothelial (cellular) lining, a fine connective tissue network, and a layer of elastic fibres. The middle layer (tunica media) is mostly smooth muscle cells. The outer layer (tunica externa) contains supportive collagen fibres. See also capillary; vein.