A capillary is a small blood vessel, from 5 to 10 micrometres in diameter, and is part of the microcirculation system. Capillaries are microvessels and the smallest blood vessels in the body.

Capillary, in human physiology, any of the minute blood vessels that form networks throughout the bodily tissues; it is through the capillaries that oxygen, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between the …

Dec 3, 2024 · A capillary is about 5 micrometers (a micrometer is 0.001 millimeter) around. It’s so tiny that red blood cells have to go through it lined up one behind the other.

Oct 19, 2025 · Learn what capillaries are, and their structure and function in the lungs and tissues. Also learn about capillary microcirculation and fluid exchange.

the smallest type of blood vessel. a capillary connects an arteriole (small artery) to a venule (small vein) to form a network of blood vessels in almost all parts of the body. the wall of a capillary is thin and …

capillary: Any of the small blood vessels that connect arteries to veins. microcirculation: The flow of blood through the smallest vessels such as arterioles, capillaries, and venules.

Mar 19, 2024 · This article provides an extensive examination of capillary anatomy, explores their dynamic physiological roles, outlines common capillary disorders, and discusses the latest diagnostic …

Dec 28, 2020 · While the capillary network used to be thought of as a permeable bridge between non-permeable arteries and veins, it is now known that these extensive structures help to regulate blood …

The capillary wall is a one-layer tissue so thin that gas and other items (eg oxygen, water, proteins and fats) can pass through them driven by pressure differences.

Capillaries form dense networks between the arteries and the veins, and it is only in the capillary beds that interchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients can take place with the cells.