capillary bed
Smallest blood vessel cluster
A capillary bed is the network of tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrients pass from blood into tissues, and waste products pass back.
These microscopic vessels form a mesh between arteries and veins, creating the actual site of exchange between blood and cells: The capillary bed in the lungs is where oxygen enters the bloodstream.
Flow through minute vessels
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
- blood flowMovement through vessels
- arteriolesSmallest arterial vessels
- venulesSmallest vein branches
gas exchange · endothelium · plasma · red blood cells · filtration · oncotic pressure · diffusion · permeability
Formation of new vessels
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- vasodilationRelaxation of vessel walls
- autoregulationIntrinsic flow homeostasis mechanism
- oxygen deliveryProviding breathable gas medically
carbon dioxide removal · waste removal · hyperemia · ischemia · reperfusion
Smallest arterial branch
- venuleTiny blood vessel
- blood-brain barrierProtective cerebral filtration system
- fenestrationsOpenings in structures
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
microcirculation
Flow through minute vessels
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
- blood flowMovement through vessels
- arteriolesSmallest arterial vessels
venules · gas exchange · endothelium · plasma · red blood cells · filtration · oncotic pressure · diffusion · permeability · lymphatic drainage
angiogenesis
Formation of new vessels
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- vasodilationRelaxation of vessel walls
- autoregulationIntrinsic flow homeostasis mechanism
oxygen delivery · carbon dioxide removal · waste removal · hyperemia · ischemia · reperfusion
arteriole
Smallest arterial branch
- venuleTiny blood vessel
- blood-brain barrierProtective cerebral filtration system
- fenestrationsOpenings in structures
- Circulatory Systemheart rate, blood, artery, veins, arteries
- blood vesselsarteries, artery, vein, veins, aorta
- arteriesaorta, carotid artery, coronary artery, coronary, femoral artery
capillary bedaorta
Chief arterial trunk
vena cava · pulmonary artery · pulmonary vein · femoral artery · jugular vein
capillary, bedding, bedded, cape, capital, captain, capitulate, decapitate, per capita