Anatomy
blood-brain barrier Audio
[ bluhd-breyn ]
Subclass of:
Cardiovascular system; Brain
Definitions related to blood - brain barrier anatomy:
  • (blood-brain barrier) A network of blood vessels and tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain. The blood-brain barrier lets some substances, such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and general anesthetics, pass into the brain. It also keeps out bacteria and other substances, such as many anticancer drugs.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (blood brain barrier) A physical barrier and a system of cellular transport mechanisms which maintain homeostasis in the brain by restricting the entrance of potentially harmful chemicals from the blood and by allowing the entrance of essential nutrients.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (blood-brain barrier) Specialized non-fenestrated tightly-joined ENDOTHELIAL CELLS with TIGHT JUNCTIONS that form a transport barrier for certain substances between the cerebral capillaries and the BRAIN tissue.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (blood-brain barrier) The mechanism for restricting the passage of charged ions and large molecules from the blood into the brain and central nervous system (CNS) by employing a unique capillary bed with tight junctions between the endothelial cells.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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