sinusoid

sinusoid

 [si´nŭ-soid]

1. resembling a sinus.

2. a form of terminal blood channel consisting of a large, irregular, anastomosing vessel, having a lining of reticuloendothelium but little or no adventitia. Sinusoids are found in the liver, adrenal glands, heart, parathyroid glands, carotid bodies, spleen, hemolymph glands, and pancreas.

si·nu·soid

(si'nŭ-soyd),

1. Resembling a sinus.

2. Sinusoidal capillary; a thin-walled terminal blood vessel having an irregular and larger caliber than an ordinary capillary; its endothelial cells have large gaps and the basal lamina is either discontinuous or absent.

Synonym(s): vas sinusoideum [TA], sinusoidal capillary

[sinus + G. eidos, resemblance]

sinusoid

(sī′nə-soid′, -nyə-)

n.

1. Mathematics See sine curve.

2. Anatomy Any of the venous cavities through which blood passes in various glands and organs, such as the adrenal gland and the liver.

---

si′nu·soi′dal (-soid′l) adj.

si′nu·soi′dal·ly adv.

si·nu·soid

(sī'nŭ-soyd)

1. Resembling a sinus.

2. Sinusoidal capillary; a thin-walled terminal blood vessel having a more variable and larger caliber than an ordinary capillary; its endothelial cells have large gaps and the basal lamina is either discontinuous or absent.

[sinus + G. eidos, resemblance]