when small blood vessels in the heart muscle become connected to each other and re-route blood and oxygen to the damaged or deprived area of the heart.

Small connecting blood vessels.

a safety mechanism of the arterial system of the brain; collateral circulation involves the redirecting of blood through a route that is different than normal; it can be crucial when blockages occur

A system of smaller arteries closed under normal circumstances that may open up and start to carry blood to part of the heart when a coronary artery is blocked. They can serve as alternative routes of blood supply.

The development of additional arteries around an obstruction to increase blood flow to the area.

A network of small arteries normally closed. When the coronary artery is blocked, they may open to carry blood to the heart.

The slow development of smaller peripheral arteries to allow some blood flow around the narrowed/blocked area of an artery. This occurs as an adaptation when an artery is slowly blocked with plaque over time.

blood vessels that join to take over some of the circulation of blocked vessels; natural by-pass congestive heart failure: decline of heart's ability to pump, causing fluid accumulation in lungs, stomach and legs

Circulation of the blood through nearby smaller vessels when a main vessel has been occluded.

When a major artery becomes blocked, smaller (collateral) arteries may open up that bypass the block and keep the tissue beyond the block supplied with blood.

blood flow through small, nearby vessels in response to blockage of a main blood vessel.

Alternative pathway through which blood will flow in the presence of an occluded artery or vein.

small side capillaries that carry blood around a site of blockage in an artery.

increased blood flow in small blood vessels indirectly supplying blood to a region of the brain when the blood flow from a main artery to the region is blocked.

blood flow through a side branch of a blood vessel