Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4.1
Introduction
The microvascular bed is the primary location where water and nutrients are
exchanged between circulating blood and body tissues. The microvessel walls
consist mainly of endothelial cells (Fig. 4.1a ). Under normal conditions, the cleft
between endothelial cells (interendothelial cleft) is widely believed to be the
principal pathway for transport of water and hydrophilic solutes (such as glucose,
amino acids, vitamins, and hormones) across the capillary wall [ 57 ]. Direct and
Fig. 4.1 ( a ) A typical mesenteric post-capillary venule of diameter 30
m, whose wall consists of
endothelial cells. The gap between adjacent endothelial cells is called interendothelial cleft. ( b )
Ultrastructural organization of junction strands in the interendothelial cleft and the endothelial
surface glycocalyx. Revised from Bundgaard [ 13 ]
m
Search WWH ::




Custom Search