vascular endothelial growth factor
nounMedical Definition of vascular endothelial growth factor
: a protein that is a major factor in promoting the growth of new blood vessels
The team found that neurons and accessory cells called Schwann cells make a molecule called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is found in a variety of tissues and has been shown to spur blood vessels to sprout and grow.— Greg Miller, Science, 21 June 2002
—abbreviation VEGF