endothelium
Blood vessel skin
Endothelium is the thin layer of cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
This tissue forms a barrier between circulating blood and vessel walls, regulating the passage of materials and white blood cells.
Endothelial dysfunction contributes to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases: The endothelium plays a crucial role in blood clotting.
Tubes carrying oxygenated blood
- veinsBlood-return tubes
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- circulationMovement through a system
- bloodflowVascular fluid movement
coronary · cardiovascular · ischemia · microcirculation · vasculature · blood vessels · aorta · venules
Relaxation of vessel walls
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
- angiogenesisFormation of new vessels
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
coagulation · anticoagulant · thrombosis · blood pressure regulation · hemostasis · wound healing · growth factors
Artery's innermost layer
- lumenLight output measure
- monolayerSingle-atom-thick coating
- tunicaEnclosing tissue layer
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
lamina · squamous · continuous · fenestrated · discontinuous · sinusoidal
Arterial plaque accumulation disease
- hypertensionChronic elevated arterial pressure
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
dysfunction · hyperplasia · thromboembolism · sepsis · cardiovascular disease · stenosis · aneurysm · vasculitis
Tendency to choose carefully
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- blood-brain barrierProtective cerebral filtration system
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
arteries
Tubes carrying oxygenated blood
- veinsBlood-return tubes
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- circulationMovement through a system
bloodflow · coronary · cardiovascular · ischemia · microcirculation · vasculature · blood vessels · aorta · venules · arterioles
vasodilation
Relaxation of vessel walls
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
- angiogenesisFormation of new vessels
permeability · coagulation · anticoagulant · thrombosis · blood pressure regulation · hemostasis · wound healing · growth factors
intima
Artery's innermost layer
basement membrane · lamina · squamous · continuous · fenestrated · discontinuous · sinusoidal
atherosclerosis
Arterial plaque accumulation disease
- hypertensionChronic elevated arterial pressure
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
plaque · dysfunction · hyperplasia · thromboembolism · sepsis · cardiovascular disease · stenosis · aneurysm · vasculitis
selectivity
Tendency to choose carefully
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- blood-brain barrierProtective cerebral filtration system
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading