tunica

[ too-ni-kuh, tyoo- ]

noun

, Anatomy, Zoology, Botany.

, plural tu·ni·cae [too, -ni-see, tyoo, -].

1. a tunic.

tunica

/ ˈtjuːnɪkə /

noun

1. anatomy tissue forming a layer or covering of an organ or part, such as any of the tissue layers of a blood vessel wall
2. botany the outer layer or layers of cells of the meristem at a shoot tip, which produces the epidermis and cells beneath it Compare corpus

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunica¹

< New Latin, special use of Latin tunica tunic

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunica¹

C17: from Latin tunica tunic

Example Sentences

These mimic the layered structure of the native vascular wall, which, from inside out, is composed of the tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia tissues.

From Science Daily

All three are encased in a tough, fibrous sheath called the tunica albuginea that, when plaque forms, makes the sheath less flexible.

From New York Times

The outer lining of these cylinders is a tough and non-expansible layer called the tunica albuginea.

From Salon

When the tunica albuginea tears, the blood that is normally confined to this space leaks out into other tissues.

From Salon

The whole vascular system, including the heart, has an endothelial lining, which may constitute a distinct inner coat, the tunica intima, or may be without coverings, as in the case of the capillaries.

From Project Gutenberg