Dr.

Saadi Saleh Mohammed Barwari

By the end of this lecture and following completion
of the self study, you should be able to:
1. Describe how blood vessels ( arteries, arterioles,
capillaries, venules and veins) are named.
2. Describe the structure of different types of blood
vessels in relation to their function in supplying
blood to and from the tissue of the body.
3. Revise the structure of cardiac muscle in the ToB
-L12.1 .
LO 1
Circulatory system: includes 2 subsystems
Blood+Lymphatic vascular systems
.
1. Blood vascular system“cardiovascular system,CVS” ; is
a closed system of tubes. Through which the blood circulates
with the aid of an in-line muscular pump.
The blood vascular system distribute nutritive materials,
oxygen, and hormones to all parts of the body and
removes the cellular products of metabolism.
2. Lymphatic vascular system.
comprises another set of vessels,in which lymph (excess
tissue fluid,cellular debris and lymphocytes)moves in only one
direction (toward the junction of the lymph vessels with large
veins, internal jugular and subclavian veins)in the neck.
LO 1
1. The cardiovascular system.
It has four types of components:
-The heart a single muscular organ, but it act as a double
pump.
- The arteries,which carry blood from the heart to the tissue.
-The veins which return blood from the tissues to the heart.
-The capillaries which intervene between the arteries and
vein, allowing an exchange of nutrients, oxygen and waste
products between the blood and other tissue.

Why is the heart known as a double pump?

…. Because each half pumps a round a different circulation
system. The right side pumps oxygen-poor blood blood to
the lungs, while the left side pumps oxygen-rich blood
blood around the body.
LO 1 Vessels of the blood circulatory system.
• The heart is the principal organ of the blood circulatory s,
pumping blood throughout the body&providing the force by
which nutrients leave the capillaries & enter tissues.
• Large elastic arteries (larger than 10 mm) leave the heart
and branch to form muscular arteries (typically ranges from 0.1
mm to 10 mm). These arteries branch further and enter organs,
where they branch much further to form arterioles.
• These arterioles branch into the smallest vessels, the
capillaries, the site of exchange between blood and
surrounding tissue. Capillaries then merge to form venules,
which merge further into small and then medium -sized veins.
• These veins leave organs, form larger veins which eventually
bring blood back to the heart.
LO 1
LO 1
LO 2 Walls of arteries,veins & capillaries
• Walls of both arteries & veins
have a tunica intima ,tunica
media, & tunica externa (or
adventitia), which correspond
roughly to the heart’s
endocardium, myocardium and
epicardium.
• An artery has a thicker tunica
media& relatively narrow
lumen. A vein has a larger
lumen & its tunica externa is the
thickest layer. The tunica intima
of veins is often folded to form
valves.
• Capillaries have only an
endothelium, with no
subendothelial layer or other
tunics.
LO 2 Histological Structur of Blood Vessels
1.The tunica intima or interna has one layer
of endothelial cells bordering the lumen, supported
by a thin subendothelial layer of loose connective
tissue. Capillaries consist solely of endothelium.
In arteries, the intima is separated from t.media by
a fenestrated layer of elastin, the internal elastic
lamina.
2.The tunica media consists chiefly of
concentric layers of helically arranged smooth
muscle cells Interposed among the smooth
muscle cells are variable amounts of elastic fibers
and reticular fibers. Arteries generally have a
thicker media (more muscles & elastic fibers) than
do veins or lymphatic vessels.
3.The tunica adventitia consists principally
of type I collagen and elastic fibers that anchor the
vessel in the surrounding tissue. In veins, the
adventitia is the thickest layer, it may contain
longitudinal smooth muscle ( in large vein). In all
large vessels, the adventitia contain Vasa vasorum
LO 2
LO 2
Arteries
Arteries carry blood away from the heart. Different arteries contain
varying amounts of elastic fibres and smooth muscle fibres in their
walls
LO 2 Large Elastic Arteries
1.The elastic arteries are termed
conducting arteries because conduct
blood to smaller branches of vascular
system, include the aorta and its large
branches.
2. The intima is thicker than the
corresponding tunic of a muscular artery. It
consists of endothelial cells polygonal in shape ,
subendothelial layer and a distinct internal
elastic which is difficult to discern. Endoth-
elial cells of all vessels larger than capillaries cells.
3.The tunica media consists of abundant
elastic fibers as a series of concentrically
arranged, perforated elastic laminae that
increase in number with age. (there are
about 40 in the newborn, 70 in the adult).
Between the elastic laminae are smooth
muscle cells,reticular fibers,proteoglycans,
and glycoproteins.
4.The tunica adventitia is a thin coat , it is not highly organized,contains elastic
and type-I collagen fibers (fibroelastic connective tissue containing vasa vasorum
, lymphatic vessels and nerve fibres) and external elastic lamina that may be hard
to distinguish.
LO 2

Large Elastic Arteries

LO 2 Medium sized
(Muscular) arteries, also
called distributing arteries because
they distribute blood to different organs
1.The T. intima has typical endothelium and
subendothelial con.t. (very thin layer). The
internal elastic lamina is prominent and
form a thick fenestrated wavy band line
between Intima and media
2.The tunica media is thick may contains up to
40 layers of smooth muscle. Collagen, elastic
fiber, and proteoglycan amounts vary (the
larger the artery,the more elastin in media).
An external elastic lamina, the last
component of the media, is present only
in the larger muscular arteries.
3.The adventitia is relatively thin, consists
of connective tissue. Lymphatic capillaries,
vasa vasorum and nerves.
At the moment of death , the artery experiences
an intense contraction; consequently, the lumen
is reduced, the internal elastic membrane
undulates,and the muscular tunica thickens.
CS of small arteries. A: The elastic lamina is not stained and is seen as a pallid lamina of
scalloped appearance just below the endothelium (arrowhead). B: A small artery with a
distinctly stained internal elastic lamina (arrowhead).
Diagram comparing the structure of a muscular artery (left) and
accompanying vein (right). Note that the tunica intima and the tunica
media are highly developed in the artery but not in the vein.
LO 2 Arterioles
1.Are generally less than 0.1 mm
2.The tunica intima consist only of typical
endothelium. Often lacks subendothelial con
–nective tissue &internal elastic lamina.
A thin fenestrated internal elastic lamina
(membrane) is absent in small and terminal
arterioles but present in larger arterioles

3.The T. media is generally

composed of one to five circularly
arranged smooth muscle cells.
4. The tunica adventitia usually is
thinner than the media and
merges into the surrounding con.t.
No external elastic membrane is present.
LO 2
 Metarterioles
Arteries that supply blood to capillary beds are called metarterioles.
They differ from arterioles in that the smooth muscle layer is not
continuous Rather, the individual muscle cells are spaced apart and
each encircles the endothelium of a capillary arising from the
metarteriole.
This is a precapillary sphincter. Each smooth muscle cell is believed to
function as a sphincter, upon contraction, controlling blood flow into
the capillary bed.

Tunica adventitia is indistinguishable.

Precapillary Sphincters
Precapillary sphincters allow the arterioles
and metarterioles to serve as flow regulators
for the capillary beds.
Lymphatic capillaries drain away excess
extracellular fluid, returning it to the blood
at the junctions of the internal jugular and
.
subclavian veins
LO 2
Capillaries
1.permit different levels of metabolic
exchange between blood and
surrounding tissues.
2.They are composed of a single layer
of endothelial cells with basement
membrane, connect the arterial
and venous sides of circulation,
Two or three cells, ocasionally only one,
line the circumference of capillary at any
level of section

3. The average diameter of capillaries

varies from 5 to10 µm and their
individual length is usually not more
than 50 µm. The total length
nearly 96,000 km (60,000 miles).
LO 2
Capillaries
4.The total diameter of the
capillaries is approximately 800
times larger than that of the
aorta.
5.The velocity of blood in the
aorta averages 320 mm/s, but
in capillaries blood flows only
about 0.3 mm/s. Because of
their thin walls and slow blood
flow, capillaries are a favorable
place for the exchange of water,
solutes, and macromolecules
between blood and tissues
LO 2 Types of Capillaries

Continuous
Fenestrated

Discontinuous
LO 2
Variation in the structure of the capillary wall form the basis of a
classification of capillaries into three types
1- Continuous( Type 1) Capillaries: Found in muscle , lung, the CNS and
skin. The cytoplasm of endothelial cell is thick and contains numerous
small vesicles (pinocytotic vesicles)which involved in the transport of
fluid across the capillary wall. The endothelial cells held together by
simple interdigitated junctions. In most regions there is a narrow gap
between oposed cell membranes which contains som electro-dense
material, but in certain regions, the opposed cell membranes fuse to

form tight junctions.

LO 2
2-Fenestrated (Type II) Capillaries : Found in the intestinal mucosa ,
many endocrine glands, the renal glomeruli, and the pancreas , the
cytoplasm of endothelial cells is perforated by pores closed by a thin
diaphragm except in capillaries of renal glomeruli.
The endothelial cells are separated by gap junctions.
LO 2

3- Sinusoidal capillaries are fenestrated capillaries that have larger openings,

and have irregular tortous wall, the basal lamina is incomplete . Primarily
located in the bone marrow, lymph nodes and adrenal gland. and are present
in the liver and spleen where greater movement of cells and materials is
necessary.
LO 2
pericytes
1.Are cells of
mesenchymal origin with
long cytoplasmic
processes partly
surrounding the
endothelial layer at
various locations along
capillaries and
postcapillary venules.

2.These cells' primary

have contractile function.
3. After tissue injuries,
pericytes proliferate and
differentiate to form new
blood vessels
LO 2
Microcirculation
 Types of microcirculation
formed by small blood
vessels ( arterioles,
capillaries, and venules.)
(1) The usual sequence of
arteriole –> metarteriole –
> capillary –> venule .
(2) An arteriovenous
anastomosis.
(3) An arterial portal system,
as is present in the kidney
glomerulus.
(4) A venous portal system,
as is present in the liver.
 PORTAL VESSELS:
• Portal vessels carry blood from one capillary (sinusoidal)bed to another
without first returning it to the heart.
• Example include:
- the hepatic portal vein between the intestine and the liver,
- the hypophyseal portal veins in the pituitary and the efferent artioles
of the renal cortex.
 ARTERIOVENOUS ANASTOMOSES:
•These direct connection between arteries and veins
regulate blood flow by smooth muscle contraction.
•When they are open,more blood passes directly
from arteries to vein.
•Complex anastomoses between arterioles and
venules, called glomera, occur mainly in the
finger pads,nail beds and ears.
•Arteriovenus anastomoses permit efficient
management of blood distribution during stress
, heavy exertion and temperature changes.
•They also help to regulate blood pressure and other
physiologic process, such as erection and menstruation.
 !"#$%
LO 2
LO 2 Postcapillary Venules

Post capillary venules receive blood from capillaries, have a diameter of 10-30 µm and
are even more permeable than capillaries. Their wall is similar to that of capillaries
(endothelial lining with associated pericytes).
Because their pressure is lower than that of capillaries or the surrounding tissue, fluid
tends to drain into them, except when an inflammatory response is operating, in
which case fluid and leukocytes emigrate. These venules are the preferred location
for emigration of leukocytes from the blood.
LO 2
LO 2
LO 2

Large Vein
In the large vein,
tunica media
consists of a few
layers of smooth
muscle: many
longitudinally
arranged smooth
muscle bundles(in
cross section on
this slide) are in
tunica adventitia.
LO 2
LO 2
LO 2
Vasa vasorum
Walls of the larger
vessels, as the aorta,
contain in the tunica
adventitia a supply of
microvasculature to
bring O2 and
nutrients to local
cells too far from the
lumen to be
nourished by blood
there. These
arterioles (A),
capillaries and
venules (V)
constitute the vasa
vasorum (vessels of
vessels).
The vasa vasorum are more prevalent in the
walls of veins than arteries. Why?

Veins have more cells that cannot be supplied with oxygen

and nutrients by diffusion because venous blood contains
less oxygen and nutrients than arterial blood.