Capillary

Definition

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, which connect arterioles and venules, facilitating the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste substances between blood and tissues. Their walls are thin enough to allow for these exchanges through processes like diffusion.

Related terms

Arteriole: An arteriole is a small-diameter blood vessel that extends and branches out from an artery and leads to capillaries, playing a key role in regulating blood flow to specific areas of tissue.

Venule: A venule is a very small vein that collects blood from capillary beds into larger veins, serving as one of the primary venues for deoxygenated blood on its way back to the heart.

Diffusion:

Diffusion is a process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, crucial for the exchange of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood in capillaries and body cells