Continuous capillary
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells and their basal laminae. Connective tissue cells with contractile proteins, called pericytes, may surround a capillary. Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle have a large number of capillaries. Capillaries are so narrow that blood cells must pass through in single file.1000x, 1000x
Capillaries >
Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle shown on the left, have a large number of capillaries. In contrast, tissues with low activity, like the connective tissue seen on the right, have fewer capillaries.
- Endothelial cells
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells and their basal laminae. Connective tissue cells with contractile proteins, called pericytes, may surround a capillary. Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle have a large number of capillaries. Capillaries are so narrow that blood cells must pass through in single file.1000x, 1000x
Arteriole
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells and their basal laminae. Connective tissue cells with contractile proteins, called pericytes, may surround a capillary. Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle have a large number of capillaries. Capillaries are so narrow that blood cells must pass through in single file.1000x, 1000x
Venule
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells and their basal laminae. Connective tissue cells with contractile proteins, called pericytes, may surround a capillary. Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle have a large number of capillaries. Capillaries are so narrow that blood cells must pass through in single file.1000x, 1000x
Nerve
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells and their basal laminae. Connective tissue cells with contractile proteins, called pericytes, may surround a capillary. Tissues with high metabolic requirements like heart muscle have a large number of capillaries. Capillaries are so narrow that blood cells must pass through in single file.1000x, 1000x