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. SYN: sinusoidal capillary. [sinus + G. eidos, resemblance]
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si·nu·soid 'sī-n(y)ə-.sȯid n a minute endothelium-lined space or passage for blood in the tissues of an organ (as the liver)
si·nu·soi·dal·ly -əl-ē adv
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n.
a small blood vessel found in certain organs, such as the adrenal gland and liver. Large numbers of sinusoids occur in the liver. They receive oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery and nutrients from the intestines via the portal vein. Oxygen and nutrients diffuse through the capillary walls into the liver cells. The sinusoids are drained by the hepatic veins. See also portal system.
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si·nus·oid (siґnə-soid) [sinus + -oid] 1. resembling a sinus. 2. vas sinusoideum.Medical dictionary. 2011.