Ectasia: Understanding Distended Blood Vessels - Definition & Causes

The medical term meaning distended (enlarged) blood vessel is ectasia or ectasis. It is often used to refer to the chronic, abnormal enlargement of a blood vessel, such as a varicose vein or an aneurysm. For example, coronary artery ectasia refers to the enlargement of one or more of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.