Capillary bed and arteriovenous anastomosis. Illustration of arteries (red, left) and veins (blue, right) connected by a capillary bed (top) and an ar
Capillary bed and arteriovenous anastomosis. Illustration of arteries (red, left) and veins (blue, right) connected by a capillary bed (top) and an arteriovenous anastomosis (bottom). The bands around the arterial blood vessels are smooth muscle bands that are known as precapillary sphincters. These tighten and relax to adjust blood flow into capillaries (a phenomenon known as precapillary resistance). This feature is mainly present in the mesenteric microcirculation in the intestines. The microvessels linking arterioles and capilaries in the microcirculation are known as metarterioles. The arteriovenous anastomosis is an alternative route for blood to flow between the arteries and veins, rather than flowing through the capillary bed.
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Photo credit: © MAURIZIO DE ANGELIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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