ScienceAugust 25, 2026
arterialization
ar-TEER-ee-uh-luh-ZAY-shun
Definition
The biological process in which smaller, simpler blood vessels like capillaries transform or differentiate into larger, mature arteries.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'arteria' (windpipe or artery) and the Greek suffix '-ize' (to make or become), combined with the noun-forming suffix '-ation' to describe the developmental process.
In the news
In this article, the term describes the specific mechanism by which the heart repairs itself after an attack by converting existing capillaries into functional bypass vessels. This discovery shifts the focus of cardiac repair research from existing arteries to capillary-driven growth.
Heart capillaries may build natural bypasses for blood flow after heart attacks
Read the full article ↗Medical Xpress