The
smallest branches of arteries are called arterioles (Fig.
11-11), a term often used when the tunica media has only 2-3
layers of smooth muscle. (Arterioles with only 1 or 2 layers
of smooth muscle fibers are sometimes called "metarterioles".)
- Examine arterioles in the CT on
slides 92 and
45.
Capillaries (Fig. 11-15) usually have
narrow lumens, often no more than the diameter of
erythrocytes.![](../images/capillary1.jpg)
Sinusoids have much larger lumens,
but are present in only certain organs, such as bone marrow, where
you examined them previously.
- Both capillaries and sinusoids
lack muscular and adventitial layers. Fig. 11-16 compares the
three major types of capillaries.
- Examine capillaries (Fig. 11-15) in
skeletal muscle (slide 8) and in the CT of mesentery (slide
116). Look carefully for pericytes.![](../images/peric1.jpg)
Examine the electron micrographs of
the two common types of capillaries (Figs. 11-17 and 11-18),
noting particularly the pinocytotic vesicles often present and the
fenestrations in one type.
What is the functional
significance of the differences in capillary endothelium?
Veins and
venules
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