Venules
Venules
Venules (/ˈvɛnjuːlz/; from the Latin venula, diminutive of vena meaning 'vein') are very small blood vessels in the microcirculation that allows blood to return from the capillary beds to the larger blood vessels called veins. Venules range from 7 to 50μm in diameter.
Structure
Venules are the smallest, thinnest veins in the body. They are formed when capillary beds unite, and they continue to merge into larger veins. The walls of venules consist of endothelium, a thin layer of squamous cells that is a continuation of the capillary endothelium.
Function
Venules are responsible for draining oxygen-depleted blood from the capillaries into the veins, which then return the blood to the heart. They also play a key role in the immune response, as they allow white blood cells to exit the bloodstream and enter the surrounding tissues in response to infection or injury.
Related Terms
- Veins: Larger blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart.
- Capillaries: The smallest blood vessels where the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste chemical substances occurs between the blood and the surrounding tissues.
- Endothelium: The thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels.
- Microcirculation: The circulation of blood in the smallest blood vessels.
- Immune response: The body's defensive reaction to invasion by bacteria, viruses, or foreign substances.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Venules
- Wikipedia's article - Venules
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