Lumen (anatomy)
In biology, a lumen (pl.: lumina) is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine.[1] It comes from Latin lumen 'an opening'.
It can refer to:
- the interior of a vessel, such as the central space in an artery, vein or capillary through which blood flows
- the interior of the gastrointestinal tract[2]
- the pathways of the bronchi in the lungs
- the interior of renal tubules and urinary collecting ducts
- the pathways of the female genital tract, starting with a single pathway of the vagina, splitting up in two lumina in the uterus, both of which continue through the fallopian tubes
- the fluid-filled cavity forming in the blastocyst during pre-implantation development called the blastocoel
In cell biology, a lumen is a membrane-defined space that is found inside several organelles, cellular components, or structures, including thylakoid, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondrion, and microtubule.
Transluminal procedures
[edit]Transluminal procedures are procedures occurring through lumina, including:[citation needed]
- natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in the lumina of, for example, the stomach, vagina, bladder, or colon
- procedures through the lumina of blood vessels, such as various interventional radiology procedures:
- percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
- percutaneous transluminal commissurotomy
See also
[edit]- Foramen, any anatomical opening
References
[edit]- ^ Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 24th ed.
- ^ Adds, John; Erica Larkcom; Ruth Miller (2004). Exchange and transport, energy and ecosystems. Nelson Advanced science (Nelson Thornes). p. 16. ISBN 0-7487-7487-4.
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