neovascularization
|ne-o-vas-cu-lar-i-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌniː.oʊˌvæs.kjə.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌniː.əʊˌvæs.kjʊ.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/
formation of new blood vessels
Etymology
'neovascularization' is formed from the combining element 'neo-' from Greek 'neos' meaning 'new', plus Latin-derived 'vascular' from 'vasculum'/'vas' meaning 'vessel', and the noun-forming suffix '-ization' (via French/Modern Latin).
'neo-' (Greek) + 'vascular' (from Latin 'vasculum' through Medieval/Modern Latin and French) combined in modern medical English to produce 'neovascular' and then the noun 'neovascularization' in the 19th–20th century medical literature.
Initially constructed to denote the concept 'new vessel (formation)', its meaning has remained essentially the same and is used in modern medicine to denote formation of new blood vessels, often in pathological contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the formation of new blood vessels, especially in tissues where new vessel growth is abnormal or associated with disease (for example, in the retina, tumors, or wound healing).
The ophthalmologist noted neovascularization on the patient's retina, a sign of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/30 13:01