Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To develop or supply (an organ, tissue, or structure) with blood vessels. This is the process of becoming vascular.
2. Verb (intransitive):
   • To become vascular; to acquire a system of vessels that circulate fluids, especially blood.

Usage

• The verb is often used in biological, medical, and physiological contexts to describe the formation of a network of blood vessels.
• The transitive form (vascularize something) means to cause this process to happen.
• The intransitive form (something vascularizes) means the process happens naturally or spontaneously.

Examples

• Transitive usage:
  • Surgeons aim to vascularize the new tissue graft to ensure its survival.
  • The embryo secretes signals that vascularize the surrounding membrane.
• Intransitive usage:
  • For the tumor to grow beyond a certain size, it must vascularize.
  • During wound healing, the new tissue begins to vascularize.

Advanced Usage

• "to become vascularized": This passive construction is very common and is synonymous with the intransitive meaning.
  • The implanted scaffold slowly became vascularized, integrating with the host's circulatory system.

Variants and Related Words

• Vascularization (noun): The process of becoming vascular or the condition of being vascular.
  • Adequate vascularization is critical for organ transplant success.
• Revascularize (verb): To restore blood flow to a tissue or organ, often surgically.
  • The procedure was performed to revascularize the heart muscle.
• Avascular (adjective): Lacking blood vessels.
  • Cartilage is an avascular tissue.

Synonyms

• For the process: angiogenesis (specifically the formation of new blood vessels), perfuse (to supply with fluid, often blood).
• For the result: perfused, supplied with vessels.

Antonyms

• Devascularize (to deprive of blood vessels or blood supply).
• Necrose (to die due to lack of blood supply, a potential result of failed vascularization).

Verb

1. make vascular
   • the yolk sac is gradually vascularized
2. become vascular and have vessels that circulate fluids
   • The egg yolk vascularized