collateral

collateral /col·lat·er·al/ (kah-lat´er-al)

1. secondary or accessory; not direct or immediate.

2. a small side branch, as of a blood vessel or nerve.

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col·lat·er·al (k-ltr-l)

adj.

1. Indirect, subsidiary, or accessory to the main thing.

2. Having an ancestor in common but descended from a different line.

n.

1. A branch of a nerve axon or blood vessel.

2. A collateral relative.

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col·later·al·ly adv.

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collateral

[kōlat′ərəl]

Etymology: L, cum, together with, lateralis, side

1 secondary or accessory.

2 (in anatomy) a small branch, such as any one of the arterioles or venules in the body, as in collateral circulation.

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collateral

1. secondary or accessory; not direct or immediate.

2. a side branch, as of a blood vessel or nerve.

3. security for a loan.

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collateral circulation

see collateral vessel.

collateral fissure

a longitudinal fissure of the cerebral hemisphere between the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri. Called also collateral sulcus.

collateral ligaments

see ligament.

collateral recruitment

the utilization of many small arterial-capillary units in pulmonary tissue during exercise and increased cardiac output, for increased exchange of gases.

collateral relationship

where two individuals have a common ancestor.

collateral sulcus

see collateral fissure.

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collateral

adjective Referring to that which occurs in addition to a desired effect, is located adjacent to, or on the radius of a circle, secondary, or accessory. See Collateral damage.