Collateral circulation

Collateral circulation

Collateral circulation is when an area of tissue or an organ has a number of different pathways for blood to reach it. This is often as a result of anastamoses - branches formed between adjacent blood vessels.

An example of the usefulness of collateral circulation is a systemic thrombo-embolism in cats. This is when a thrombus lodges above the external iliac artery(Common Iliac Artery), blocking the external and internal iliac arteries and effectively shutting off all blood supply to the hind leg. Even though the main vessels to the leg are blocked, enough blood can get to the tissues in the leg via the collateral circulation in order to keep them alive.



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  • Collateral circulation — Collateral Col*lat er*al, a. [LL. collateralis; col + lateralis lateral. See {Lateral}.] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. Collateral light. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Acting in an indirect way. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • collateral circulation — n circulation of blood established through enlargement of minor vessels and anastomosis of vessels with those of adjacent parts when a major vein or artery is functionally impaired (as by obstruction) also the modified vessels through which such… …   Medical dictionary

  • collateral circulation — noun : circulation of blood established through enlargement of minor vessels and anastomosis of vessels with those of adjacent parts when a major vein or artery is functionally impaired (as by obstruction); also : the modified vessels through… …   Useful english dictionary

  • collateral circulation — circulation of blood through a network of minor vessels that become enlarged and joined with adjacent vessels when a major vein or artery is impaired, as by obstruction. [1875 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • collateral circulation — 1) an alternative route provided for the blood by secondary vessels when a primary vessel becomes blocked. 2) the channels of communication between the blood vessels supplying the heart. At the apex of the heart, where the coronary arteries form… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Leptomeningeal collateral circulation — The term leptomeningeal refers to the two deep layers of the meninges the pia mater and the arachnoid mater. The leptomeningeal collateral circulation is a network of blood vessels supplying the brain that follows a diffuse course over the… …   Wikipedia

  • collateral circulation test — see specific tests, including Korotkoff t., Pachon t., and tourniquet t. (defs. 2, 3) …   Medical dictionary

  • Collateral — Col*lat er*al, a. [LL. collateralis; col + lateralis lateral. See {Lateral}.] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. Collateral light. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Acting in an indirect way. [1913 Webster] If… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Collateral assurance — Collateral Col*lat er*al, a. [LL. collateralis; col + lateralis lateral. See {Lateral}.] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. Collateral light. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Acting in an indirect way. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • collateral damage — Collateral Col*lat er*al, a. [LL. collateralis; col + lateralis lateral. See {Lateral}.] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. Collateral light. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Acting in an indirect way. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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