CLASSIFICATION OF BLOOD VESSELS
• Blood vessels are grouped into three groups:
1. Arteries
2. Capillaries
3. Veins
• Arteries carry blood away from heart, capillaries nourish the tiss
whereas veins carry blood toward heart
,Flowchart 13.3: Classification of blood vessels
, Arteries
• Classified into groups based on characteristics of tunica media a
follows:
• Elastic or large arteries (conducting arteries) have multiple la
of vascular smooth muscles and elastic lamellae in tunica med
• Muscular arteries (medium-sized arteries) have more smooth
muscles and less elastic lamellae
• Have up to 8 smooth muscle layers in tunica media
• Have only a single layer of smooth muscles
, Capillaries
• Forms a network of vessels in tissue and are sites for exchange o
nutrients
• Classified into three groups based on continuity of wall and bas
lamina as follows:
1. Have continuous endothelial cells and basal lamina
2. Fenestrated capillaries have fenestrated endothelial cells but continuo
basal lamina
3. Sinusoid or sinusoidal capillaries have fenestrated endothelial cells an
discontinuous basal lamina
• Note: Some authors consider sinusoid as a separate group of ves
• Blood vessels are grouped into three groups:
1. Arteries
2. Capillaries
3. Veins
• Arteries carry blood away from heart, capillaries nourish the tiss
whereas veins carry blood toward heart
,Flowchart 13.3: Classification of blood vessels
, Arteries
• Classified into groups based on characteristics of tunica media a
follows:
• Elastic or large arteries (conducting arteries) have multiple la
of vascular smooth muscles and elastic lamellae in tunica med
• Muscular arteries (medium-sized arteries) have more smooth
muscles and less elastic lamellae
• Have up to 8 smooth muscle layers in tunica media
• Have only a single layer of smooth muscles
, Capillaries
• Forms a network of vessels in tissue and are sites for exchange o
nutrients
• Classified into three groups based on continuity of wall and bas
lamina as follows:
1. Have continuous endothelial cells and basal lamina
2. Fenestrated capillaries have fenestrated endothelial cells but continuo
basal lamina
3. Sinusoid or sinusoidal capillaries have fenestrated endothelial cells an
discontinuous basal lamina
• Note: Some authors consider sinusoid as a separate group of ves
