lymphatic
/lɪmˈfatɪk
/adjective
1 Physiology Relating to lymph or its secretion: lymphatic vessels lymphatic drainage...
- These therapies involve turning patients at various angles to improve gas exchange, mobilization of secretions, and lymphatic drainage.
- Lymph nodes also contain efferent lymphatic vessels, which lack Factor VIII staining.
- Manual drainage opens nonfunctioning lymphatic and venous connections and directs lymph through collateral vessels to adjacent normal lymphatics.
2 archaic (Of a person) pale, flabby, or sluggish.He was a lymphatic, half-witted Hindu youth, who lived his life in almost complete silence, because he spoke some Manipur dialect which nobody else understood, not even his Zerbadi wife....
- He was of that soft, lymphatic temperament which it is almost impossible to keep within a moderate compass, particularly as in his case his lameness prevented his taking exercise.
noun
A vein-like vessel conveying lymph in the body: the fluid is drained by the lymphatics and returned to the circulation...
- In addition, cancers can metastasize by penetrating into blood vessels, lymphatics, and body cavities.
- The lymphatic system is a network of very fine vessels or tubes called lymphatics that drain lymph from all over the body.
- All resection margins, blood vessels, lymphatics, and regional lymph nodes were free of tumor.
Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'frenzied, mad'): from Latin lymphaticus 'mad', from Greek numpholēptos 'seized by nymphs'; now associated with lymph, on the pattern of words such as spermatic.