arteriola
/ɑrˌtɪriˈoʊlə/
noun
- A small branch of an artery that leads to capillaries; same as an arteriole.
- The arteriola carries blood from the main artery into the tiny capillaries.
- In the kidney, each arteriola supplies blood to a cluster of filtering units.
- Damage to an arteriola can affect blood flow to nearby tissues.
Synonyms