Microcirulation and Oedema Flashcards
what are the micro vessels in the microcirculation system
- Terminal arterioles
- Capillary
- Venules
what is the function of the capillaries
- Site of exchange of nutrients and waste productions between the circulation and interstitial fluid that surrounds the cells
what is another name of a capillary
exchange vessels
describe what vessels lead into what vessels in microcirculation
arterioles lead into terminal arterioles which lead into capillaries which lead into venues
what is the diameter of arterioles
10-200um
what is the diameter of terminal arterioles
10-40um
what is the diameter of capillaries
5-8um
what is the diameter of venues
10-200um
what is the structure of the arterioles
- endothelium
- muscular walls
- sympathetic nerves
what is the structure of terminal arterioles
smooth muscle
few nerves
what do precapillary sphincters do
control blood flow into the capillaries, controls what capillaries have blood in them
what is arteriovenous anastomoses
- This is a connection between two vessels (arteriole and venule)- blood flows through the arteriole into the venule
describe the structure of the capillary
- Composed of endothelial cells that are held together by tight junctions surrounded by a basement membrane upon which the endothelium rests
what is the difference between the capillary and arterioles
- No smooth muscle in the capillary – this differentiates capillaries from arterioles
how many types of capillaries are there
3
what are the three types of capillaries
- Continuous capillary
- Fenestrated capillary
- Sinusoidal/discontinuous capillary
describe the structure of the continuous capillary
- Least permeable but most widely distributed
- Have a sealed endothelium and only allow small molecules like water and ions to diffuse through
- Continuous capillaries have tight junctions and can be further divided into two subtypes
- The basement membrane is continuous and there are no holes in it
what are the two subtypes fo the continuous capillary
- Those with numerous transport vesicles that are primarily found in skeletal muscles, lungs, gonads and skin
- Those with few vesicles that are primarily found in the central nervous system
describe the structure of the fenestrated capillary
- Have small circular pores in the endothelial cells (60-80 nm in diameter).
- usually have a continuous (closed) basal lamina.
- Pores Permit relatively free passage of salts and water from plasma to the tissues therefore they are more permeable than continuous capillaries
- Found in tissues that are specialized for bulk fluid exchange.
- Are primarily located in the exocrine glands, intestines, pancreas, and glomeruli of kidney.
describe the structure of the sinusoidal/discontinous capillary
- Discontinuous capillaries (sinusoidal) have the highest permeability.
- Contain special fenestrated capillaries that have larger openings (30-40 μm in diameter) in the endothelium to allow red and white blood cells (7.5μm - 25μm diameter) and various serum proteins to pass, a process that is aided by a discontinuous basal lamina.
- These capillaries lack pinocytotic vesicles and gaps may be present in cell junctions permitting leakage between endothelial cells.
- Discontinuous capillaries are primarily located in the liver, spleen, bone marrow.
- Blood cells can pass through and so can large proteins,
- They are found in places where you want large proteins and cells to go out of the capillaries such as in the liver, spleen and bone marrow
where is the fenestrated capillary found
exocrine glands, intestines, pancreas, and glomeruli of kidney.
where is the discontinuous capillary found
liver, spleen and bone marrow
what are the 4 main routes for movement across a capillary endothelial cell
- Diffusion through membrane
- Movement through intercellular clefts
- Movement through fenestrations
- Transport via vesicles or caveolae, these undergo endocytosis