Definition

A small blood vessel that branches off from an artery and leads to capillaries.

Example

The arterioles regulate blood flow to various tissues in the body.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of an arteriole?

Yeah, I think it's one of those small blood vessels, right?

Exactly! It's the tiny branch that connects arteries to capillaries.

That's cool! I didn't know they played such an important role.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Arteriole → It is formed from "arteria" (from Latin, meaning artery) and the diminutive suffix "-ole" (meaning small). The word "arteriole" refers to a small artery, indicating a smaller branch of the arterial system.

Memory Tip

Think of an 'artery' being a large blood vessel, and the '-ole' means small, so an 'arteriole' is a small artery.

Visually Confused Words