What does lacteal mean?
A lacteal is a tiny lymphatic vessel found within the villi of the small intestine. Its main function is to absorb dietary fats that have been digested and reassembled inside intestinal cells, then transport them in the milky fluid called chyle. This contrasts with the blood capillaries, which absorb most water-soluble nutrients. The word can also be used as an adjective: “lacteal vessels” refers to the vessels themselves, while “lacteal absorption” describes the uptake of fats into the lymphatic system. In anatomy, the distinction is important because it explains how dietary fat can enter the lymphatic circulation before eventually reaching the bloodstream. Although “lacteal” may suggest a connection with milk, its modern physiological meaning is specifically concerned with intestinal fat absorption and chyle transport rather than with milk production itself.
Relating to milk, or to the lymphatic vessels that absorb dietary fats in the small intestine.
"Dietary fats are absorbed into the lacteal vessels of the small intestine."
Chiefly used in technical anatomical and physiological contexts.
A lymphatic vessel within an intestinal villus that absorbs dietary fats and transports them as chyle.
"The central lacteal carries absorbed fat into the lymphatic system."
The plural is lacteals. It is chiefly used in anatomy and physiology.
The plural is used when referring to the intestinal lymphatic vessels collectively or individually.
"The lacteals absorb dietary fats and carry them through the lymphatic system."
Your fat has its own highway: lacteals carry absorbed dietary fats from the intestine into the lymphatic system.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lacteal come from?
The word comes from Latin lacteus, meaning “of milk” or “milky,” from lac, “milk.” The English medical sense developed through the description of intestinal lymphatic vessels because they contain a whitish, milk-like fluid after absorbing fats. The related English words lactation, lactiferous, and lactate all share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How lacteal is actually used
The adjective is chiefly technical and appears in anatomy and physiology. The noun is used mainly in anatomical descriptions of the small intestine.
Easily confused with lacteal
A lacteal is a lymphatic vessel associated with intestinal fat absorption, whereas lactate is a salt or anion of lactic acid.
A lacteal is a lymphatic vessel, while lactose is the sugar naturally present in milk.