Capillary
From Encyclopædia
{kap'-ih-lair-ee} Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels, slightly more than 1 mm (0.04 in) long and only 8 to 10 microns in diameter, with walls one
cell-layer thick. They connect the smallest branches of the arterial system (the arterioles) with those of the venous system (the venules). Branching repeatedly, they form a huge network (total surface area about 0.6 ha, or 1.5 acres) that delivers nutrients,
oxygen, and regulatory chemicals to the body's
cells as well as removing waste products of cellular
metabolism.Peter L. PetrakisPicture Caption[s]Capillaries form a network of minute blood vessels whose walls have a single layer of
cells. Capillaries interact with tissues throughout the body to deliver
oxygen and nutrients and serve the vital function of removing
carbon dioxide and other waste products.
