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The outermost connective tissue covering of any organ, vessel, or other structure not covered by a serosa; instead, the covering is properly derived from without ( i.e., from the surrounding connective tissue) and does not form an integral part of such organ or structure. Terminologia Anatomica [TA] lists a. (tunica a.) of the following organs: ductus deferens, esophagus, renal pelvis, seminal glands, and ureters. SYN: membrana a. (1), tunica a.. [L. adventicius, coming from abroad, foreign, fr. ad, to + venio, to come]
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ad·ven·ti·tia .ad-vən-'tish-(ē-)ə, -(.)ven- n the outer layer that makes up a tubular organ or structure and esp. a blood vessel, is composed of collagenous and elastic fibers, and is not covered with peritoneum called also tunica adventitia, tunica externa
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n.
1. the outer coat of the wall of a vein or artery. It consists of loose connective tissue and networks of small blood vessels, which nourish the walls.
2. the outer covering of various other organs or parts.
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ad·ven·ti·tia (ad″ven-tishґe-ə) [L. adventicius foreign, from without] 1. adventitial. 2. tunica adventitia.Medical dictionary. 2011.