vascular

Everyday

1. Vascular means to do with the tubes that carry blood in animals (blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries). tree →
2. In plants, vascular means having tubes (xylem and phloem) that carry water and food through the plant. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on the body and on plants, «vascular» names the transport systems: the vascular system in humans (heart, blood vessels) and vascular plants (ferns, trees, flowers) versus non-vascular plants (mosses). In hospitals, vascular surgeons operate on blood vessels. Phrases: «vascular system», «vascular plants», «vascular bundle».

Examples

• Your vascular system carries blood all round your body. tree →
• Trees are vascular plants with tubes that carry water up from the roots. tree →
• Mosses are non-vascular, so they stay small and grow in damp places. tree →
• We saw the vascular bundles in a celery stick dyed with red ink. tree →
• Grandad saw a vascular surgeon about the veins in his legs. tree →
• Exercise keeps your heart and vascular system healthy. tree →

Note

Science word: VAS-kyoo-lur. From Latin «vasculum», a small vessel. Non-vascular plants (mosses, liverworts) have no such tubes. Celery in coloured water is a classic experiment to see vascular tubes.