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1. Indirect, subsidiary, or accessory to the main thing; side by side. 2. A side branch of a nerve axon or blood vessel.
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col·lat·er·al kə-'lat-ə-rəl, -'la-trəl adj
1) relating to or being branches of a bodily part <\collateral sprouting of nerves>
2) relating to or being part of the collateral circulation <\collateral circulatory vessels> <\collateral blood flow>
collateral n
1) a branch esp. of a blood vessel, nerve, or the axon of a nerve cell <excitation of axon \collaterals>
2) a bodily part (as a ligament) that is lateral in position
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1. adj. accessory or secondary.
2. n. a branch (e.g. of a nerve fibre) that is at right angles to the main part.
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col·lat·er·al (ko-latґər-əl) [co- + lateral] 1. secondary or accessory; not direct or immediate. 2. a small side branch, as of a blood vessel or nerve.Medical dictionary. 2011.