vasodilation
|va-so-di-la-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌveɪsoʊdaɪˈleɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌveɪsəʊdaɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
widening of blood vessels
Etymology
'vasodilation' originates from Latin combining form 'vaso-' (from Latin 'vas') meaning 'vessel' and Latin 'dilation' (from 'dilatatio', from 'dilatare') meaning 'a widening or stretching'.
'vasodilation' is formed in modern English by combining the combining form 'vaso-' (from Latin 'vas' meaning 'vessel') with 'dilation' (from Medieval Latin 'dilatatio', from Latin 'dilatare'), yielding the compound used in medical English.
Initially it referred specifically to the enlargement or stretching ('dilation') of a vessel; over time it became the standard medical term for the process of blood-vessel widening that alters blood flow and pressure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the widening of blood vessels resulting from relaxation of the muscular walls of the vessels, which increases blood flow and typically lowers blood pressure.
Sepsis can cause systemic vasodilation and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/30 00:13