Anatomy

Tunica Media

The middle layer of blood vessel walls, composed principally of thin, cylindrical, smooth muscle cells and elastic tissue. It accounts for the bulk of the wall of most arteries. The smooth muscle cells are arranged in circular layers around the vessel, and the thickness of the coat varies with the size of the vessel.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The middle layer of blood vessel walls, composed principally of thin, cylindrical, smooth muscle cells and elastic tissue. It accounts for the bulk of the wall of most arteries. The smooth muscle cells are arranged in circular layers around the vessel, and the thickness of the coat varies with the size of the vessel.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

12 entry terms
  • Vascular Media
  • Media, Vascular
  • Medias, Vascular
  • Vascular Medias
  • Arterial Media
  • Venous Media
  • Arterial Medias
  • Media, Arterial
  • Media, Venous
  • Medias, Arterial
  • Medias, Venous
  • Venous Medias

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

23 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/pathol is more likely than "diseases of the tunica media"; coordinate IM with specific blood vessel (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

93

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Muscle, Smooth (1966-1979)
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular (1980-1992)
  • specific blood vessel (1966-1992)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Tunica Media. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017540. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017540
  2. Tunica Media. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunica_media
  3. Tunica Media. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1740954