porcine
Meaning of porcine: Porcine describes anything derived from or related to pigs, a term used in medicine for certain tissue-based products and research models.
Definition of porcine
Porcine means relating to or derived from pigs. In medicine, the term is used to describe biological materials sourced from pigs, including porcine heart valves used in some heart valve replacement surgeries and porcine-derived materials used in certain wound dressings and surgical products.
Pigs are also used as research and training models in medicine because their organ size and physiology share some similarities with humans. Porcine-derived medical products undergo processing intended to reduce the tissue's potential to trigger an immune reaction when used in a person.
Because porcine materials originate from an animal source, their use is sometimes discussed with patients whose personal, religious, or dietary practices are relevant to the choice between a porcine-derived product and an alternative, such as one derived from cattle or a synthetic material.
Used in a sentence
A porcine bioprosthetic valve was selected for the aortic valve replacement.
Good to know
A porcine heart valve is a biological, tissue-based valve distinct from a mechanical valve, and the two differ in durability and in whether long-term blood-thinning medication is generally needed.
Word origin
Where “porcine” comes from
From Latin porcinus, meaning "of a pig," from porcus, meaning "pig."