blood-brain barrier
noun
: a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of tight cell-to-cell contacts) that prevents many substances from leaving the blood and crossing the capillary walls into the brain tissues
Examples of blood-brain barrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Neuroinflammation, brain shrinkage, disruption of the blood-brain barrier and more have been documented in adults, as have cognitive deficits.
—
Blake Murdoch, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2024
Once the edible is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver and transformed into 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound that’s four times faster in crossing the blood-brain barrier than THC.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
The particles were also able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 16 Sep. 2024
Due to their smaller size and shape, Amato-Lourenço added, particles are more likely than fibers to bypass microglia cells in the blood-brain barrier, a membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord from many harmful substances.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blood-brain barrier 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Blake Murdoch, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2024
Once the edible is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver and transformed into 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound that’s four times faster in crossing the blood-brain barrier than THC.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
The particles were also able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 16 Sep. 2024
Due to their smaller size and shape, Amato-Lourenço added, particles are more likely than fibers to bypass microglia cells in the blood-brain barrier, a membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord from many harmful substances.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blood-brain barrier
Dictionary Entries Near blood-brain barrier
Cite this Entry
“Blood-brain barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood-brain%20barrier. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share