Home > Term: collateral blood vessels
collateral blood vessels
Small capillary-like branches of an artery that form over time in response to narrowed coronary arteries. The collaterals "bypass" the area of narrowing and help to restore blood flow. However, during times of increased exertion, the collaterals may not be able to supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Industry/Domain: Health care
- Category: Heart disease
- Company: WebMD
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