microvessels
Smallest blood tubes
Microvessels are the smallest blood vessels in the body—capillaries, arterioles, and venules—where oxygen and nutrients actually exchange with tissues.
The term appears in medical and biological contexts: The tumor developed its own network of microvessels.
Microvessel density is often measured in cancer research to assess how well a tumor can supply itself with blood.
Tiniest blood vessels
- arteriolesSmallest arterial vessels
- venulesSmallest vein branches
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
fenestrated · lumen · intima · anastomosis
Movement through vessels
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
- oxygenationAdding breathable gas
- waste removalEliminating unwanted materials
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
vasodilation · blood-brain barrier · pressure gradient · filtration · diffusion · extravasation · autoregulation · plasma
Formation of new vessels
- vascularizationFormation of blood vessels
- sproutingSeeds beginning growth
- pruningCutting vegetation for health
- regressionReturn to former state
Insufficient tissue blood supply
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- thrombosisClot forming in vessel
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
inflammation · leakage · occlusion · stenosis · retinopathy · nephropathy · vasculitis · embolism
capillaries
Tiniest blood vessels
- arteriolesSmallest arterial vessels
- venulesSmallest vein branches
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
basement membrane · fenestrated · lumen · intima · anastomosis
blood flow
Movement through vessels
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
- oxygenationAdding breathable gas
- waste removalEliminating unwanted materials
vasoconstriction · vasodilation · blood-brain barrier · pressure gradient · filtration · diffusion · extravasation · autoregulation · plasma · osmotic pressure
angiogenesis
Formation of new vessels
- vascularizationFormation of blood vessels
- sproutingSeeds beginning growth
- pruningCutting vegetation for health
ischemia
Insufficient tissue blood supply
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- thrombosisClot forming in vessel
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
edema · inflammation · leakage · occlusion · stenosis · retinopathy · nephropathy · vasculitis · embolism · infarction