How Do You Spell PRECAPILLARY?

Pronunciation: [pɹɪkˈapɪləɹi] (IPA)

The word "precapillary" is spelled with the prefix "pre-" meaning before and the root word "capillary" referring to the smallest blood vessels in the body. The pronunciation of "precapillary" is /priːkəˈpɪləri/. The first syllable "pre" is pronounced as /priː/ and the second syllable "capillary" is pronounced as /kəˈpɪləri/. This term is often used in the medical field to refer to the blood vessels that are located just before the capillaries.

PRECAPILLARY Meaning and Definition

1. Precapillary refers to anatomical structures or physiological processes that occur before or in close proximity to the capillary network. The term is derived from the combination of "pre-", meaning before, and "capillary", which refers to the smallest blood vessels in the body.

   In the context of the circulatory system, the term precapillary is used to describe the vessels or structures that lead up to the capillaries. These can include arterioles, small branches of arteries that deliver blood to the capillaries, and metarterioles, which are short vessels that connect arterioles and capillaries.

   Precapillary sphincters are another important component to consider. These circular smooth muscles are found at the junction of arterioles and capillaries. They act as valves to regulate blood flow into the capillaries, allowing or restricting the passage of blood depending on the metabolic needs of the surrounding tissues.

   Additionally, the term precapillary can be used to describe processes that occur prior to or in preparation for the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products that occur within the capillaries. For example, precapillary filtration refers to the movement of fluid and solutes from the capillaries into the surrounding tissues to provide nutrients and carry away waste.

   Overall, the concept of precapillary is an essential aspect of understanding the intricate blood vessel networks and the processes that occur before the exchange of substances in the capillaries.

2. An arteriole or venule.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PRECAPILLARY

• orecapillary
• lrecapillary
• -recapillary
• 0recapillary
• peecapillary
• pdecapillary
• pfecapillary
• ptecapillary
• p5ecapillary
• p4ecapillary
• prwcapillary
• prscapillary
• prdcapillary
• prrcapillary
• pr4capillary
• pr3capillary
• prexapillary
• prevapillary
• prefapillary
• predapillary

Etymology of PRECAPILLARY

The word "precapillary" is derived from two main roots: "pre" and "capillary".

1. "Pre-" prefix: It is a Latin-derived prefix meaning "before" or "in front of". In medical terminology, "pre-" typically denotes something happening before or prior to a certain condition or anatomical structure.

2. "Capillary": This word comes from the Latin word "capillaris", which means "of hair" or "hair-like". Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the human body that connect arteries and veins. They are called capillaries due to their resemblance to the thin, thread-like structure of hair strands.

By combining the "pre-" prefix with "capillary", the term "precapillary" is formed to describe something occurring just before or in front of the capillaries.