1. inserting a cannula (a thin tube) into a blood vessel or body cavity for medical purposes
Usage: medical/clinical term; present participle of cannulate

Examples

• The nurse is cannulating the patient's arm to start an IV.
• Cannulating a vein requires steady hands and proper technique.
• The doctor was cannulating the artery for the surgical procedure.
• Before cannulating, the medical team sterilized the insertion site.
• The paramedic practiced cannulating on a training dummy.