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A capillary is a small blood vessel, from 5 to 10 micrometres in diameter, and is part of the microcirculation system. Capillaries are microvessels and the smallest blood vessels in the body. They are composed of only the tunica intima (the innermost layer of an artery or vein), consisting of a thin wall of simple squamous endothelial cells. [2]
Contrarily, carbon dioxide (CO 2) and other wastes leave tissues and enter capillaries by the same process but in reverse. [5] Diffusion through the capillary walls depends on the permeability of the endothelial cells forming the capillary walls, which may be continuous, discontinuous, and fenestrated. [ 4 ]
The outer layer is the tunica adventitia and the thickest layer in veins. It is entirely made of connective tissue. It also contains nerves that supply the vessel as well as nutrient capillaries (vasa vasorum) in the larger blood vessels.
The alveolar membrane is the gas exchange surface, surrounded by a network of capillaries. Oxygen is diffused across the membrane into the capillaries and carbon dioxide is released from the capillaries into the alveoli to be breathed out. [7] [8] Alveoli are particular to mammalian lungs.
In continuous capillaries the endothelial cells are tightly spaced, allowing only small molecules like ions or water to diffuse through the intercellular clefts (the gaps between the endothelial cells). In fenestrated and sinusoidal capillaries there is more space between the cells, allowing the diffusion of macro-molecules and some proteins.
It is formed by the type I pneumocytes of the alveolar wall, the endothelial cells of the capillaries and the basement membrane between. The barrier is permeable to molecular oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and many other gases. [1]
Pulmonary capillaries, where there is exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste chemical substances between blood and the tissues; Bronchial veins drain venous blood from the large main bronchi into the azygous vein, and ultimately the right atrium.
An arteriole is a small-diameter blood vessel in the microcirculation that extends and branches out from an artery and leads to capillaries. [1] Arterioles have muscular walls (usually only one to two layers of smooth muscle cells) and are the primary site of vascular resistance. The greatest change in blood pressure and velocity of blood flow ...