- blood-brain barrier
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A structure in the central nervous system (CNS) that keeps various substances found in the bloodstream out of the brain while allowing in the substances essential to metabolic function, e.g. oxygen.
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blood-brain barrier
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blood-brain barrier — [blud′brān′] n. Physiol. the barrier created by the walls of the capillaries of the brain that prevents certain substances, as most proteins and drugs, from passing from the blood into the brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid … English World dictionary
Blood-brain barrier — The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a metabolic or cellular structure in the central nervous system (CNS) that restricts the passage of various chemical substances and microscopic objects (e.g. bacteria) between the bloodstream and the neural tissue … Wikipedia
Blood-brain barrier — A protective network of blood vessels and cells that filters blood flowing to the brain. * * * blood brain barrier n a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of… … Medical dictionary
blood-brain barrier — noun a mechanism that creates a barrier between brain tissues and circulating blood; serves to protect the central nervous system the brain was protected from the large molecules of the virus by the blood brain barrier • Hypernyms: ↑barrier … Useful english dictionary
blood-brain barrier — the mechanism that controls the passage of molecules from the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid and the tissue spaces surrounding the cells of the brain. The endothelial cells lining the walls of the brain capillaries are more tightly joined… … The new mediacal dictionary
blood-brain barrier — blood′ brain′ bar rier n. phl a layer of tightly packed cells that make up the walls of brain capillaries and prevent many substances in the blood from diffusing into the brain • Etymology: 1940–45 … From formal English to slang
blood-brain barrier disruption — BBBD. The use of drugs to create openings between cells in the blood brain barrier. The blood brain barrier is a protective network of blood vessels and tissue that protects the brain from harmful substances, but can also prevent anticancer drugs … English dictionary of cancer terms
blood-brain barrier — noun Date: 1944 a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of tight cell to cell contacts) that prevents many substances from leaving the blood and crossing the… … New Collegiate Dictionary
blood-brain barrier — /blud brayn /, Physiol. a layer of tightly packed cells that make up the walls of brain capillaries and prevent substances in the blood from diffusing freely into the brain: passage across the cell membranes is determined by solubility in the… … Universalium
blood-brain barrier — The blood vessels of the brain (and the retina) are much more impermeable to large molecules (like antibodies) than blood vessels elsewhere in the body. This has important implications for the ability of the organism to mount an immune response… … Dictionary of molecular biology
blood-brain barrier — A network of blood vessels with closely spaced cells that makes it difficult for potentially toxic substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate the blood vessel walls and enter the brain … English dictionary of cancer terms
