interstitiális

Interstitiális (interstitial) is an adjective used in medicine and biology to describe something related to the interstitium or to the spaces between cells, fibers, or other structural units within tissues. The term derives from Latin interstitium, meaning "space between." It is used across languages to refer to both anatomical spaces and related pathological processes.

In anatomy the interstitium is a network of connective tissue and extracellular matrix surrounding cells and vessels. Interstitial fluid fills the interstitial space and originates mainly from plasma, filtered through capillary walls. Lymphatic vessels drain this fluid, maintaining tissue hydration and enabling exchange with the circulatory and immune systems.

Medical use covers several conditions. Interstitial edema denotes excess fluid in the interstitial spaces. Interstitial lung disease encompasses disorders causing inflammation and fibrosis of the lung interstitium. Interstitial nephritis involves inflammation of the kidney interstitium. Interstitial cystitis describes chronic pain and bladder dysfunction associated with the interstitial tissues.

In materials science, interstitial describes atoms occupying spaces between the regular lattice sites in a crystal, as carbon in iron forming steel. This occupancy alters mechanical properties, diffusion, and density.

Etymologically, the term comes from Latin interstitium. It appears in English and many European languages, including Romanian and Hungarian. While the interstitium is recognized as the tissue-space network, its designation as a separate organ remains a topic of scientific discussion.