fibro-, fibr-, fiber- +

Natural materials brought into fiber form by a chemical reaction (regenerate fibers) and fibers made from polymers (synthetic fibers).

The production of synthetic fibers was the result of pioneering work on the formation of synthetic polymers and the development of extrusion techniques known as "wet spinning", "dry spinning", and "melt spinning".

• "Wet spinning" involves converting polymer solutions into fibers by diluting a highly concentrated polymer solution in a coagulating bath; where one of the main purposes of developing wet-spun polymers is to produce specific fiber structures in the coagulation bath.
• In "dry spinning", the polymer solution is forced through a spinneret where solvent is then evaporated in a warm current of air to produce almost solvent-free filaments.
• With "melt spinning", the polymer is melted by heating and then passed through a spinneret via a spinning pump; so, melt spinning requires polymers that are thermally stable and, as far as possible, resistant to thermal oxidation at certain high temperatures.

It is believed that future developments of fibers will probably be directed toward classical mass production; especially, towards attaining optimal processing characteristics and clothing comfort.

New types of applications in the field of industrial fibers and in medical technology will stimulate the development of special fibers with very specific properties.

A bridge of the distal esophagus as a consequence of variceal sclerosis (abnormally hardening of an enlarged or twisted blood vessel or lymphatic vessel).

One of the slender threads of a muscle fiber, composed of numerous myofilaments (ultramicroscopic threadlike structures composing the myofibrils of striated muscle fibers).

1. One of many contractile filaments that make up a striated muscle fiber.
2. Long cylindrical organelle of striated muscle, composed of regular arrays of thick and thin filaments and constituting the contractile apparatus

A benign tumor derived from smooth muscle.

1. Replacement of muscle tissue by fibrous tissue.
2. Chronic myositis with diffuse hyperplasia of the interstitial connective tissue pressing upon and causing atrophy of the muscular tissue.

Inflammation of the perimysium or the connective tissue sheath which surrounds a muscle, and sends partitions inwards between the bundles of muscular fibers.

1. A sarcoma with myxoid (containing mucus; mucoid), chondroid, and fibrous components.
2. A malignant neoplasm derived from fibrous connective tissue, i.e., a fibrosarcoma, in which there are intimately associated foci of cartilaginous and myxomatous tissue (a benign tumor of connective tissue containing jellylike material).

A benign neoplasm (abnormal growth) of fibrous connective tissue that resembles primitive mesenchymal (embryonic, undeveloped or embryo) tissue.

A tumor composed of mucus and fibrous elements.

Mucus coming from a rare malignant tumor found most often in the fat surrounding the kidneys or in the central part of the chest.

Plant and animal fibers.

Plant fibers include cotton, flax, hemp, jute, etc.

Animal fibers include wool, camel hair, angora, silk, etc.

Natural fibers have been used by humans for thousands of years; as, animal hair and plant fibers were spun into yarn and woven into textiles and the modern textile industry is still based on those ancient technologies.

Both natural and synthetic fibers consist of linear polymers. These polymers are converted into fibrous form by growth (animal hair and plant fibers) or extrusion (spider and silk worm) and are specifically oriented to the fiber axis.

1. A delicate fibril found in the cell body and processes of a neuron.
2. One of the delicate threads running in every direction through the cytoplasm of a nerve cell, extending into the axon and dendrites (receptive surfaces of a neuron).

Fibrosis (formation of fibrous tissue) of bone, mainly involving red bone marrow.

Fibrous thickening of the walls of the veins; called also phlebofibrosis, proliferative endophlebitis, venofibrosis, venosclerosis, and venous sclerosis.