HISTOLOGY OF CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

BY DR. MUDASSAR ALI ROOMI (MBBS, M. PHIL.)

The Circulatory System: Introduction

The circulatory system includes both the blood and lymphatic vascular systems. The blood vascular system is composed of the following structures: 1. The heart, an organ whose function is to pump the blood. 2. The arteries, a series of efferent vessels that become smaller as they branch, and whose function is to carry the blood, with its nutrients and oxygen, to the tissues. 3. The capillaries, the smallest blood vessels, constituting a complex network of thin tubules that branch profusely in almost every organ and through whose walls the interchange between blood and tissues takes place. 4. The veins, which result from the convergence of capillaries into a system of larger channels that continue enlarging as they approach the heart, toward which they convey the blood to be pumped again.

1.

The continuous, or tight, capillary

Dont have any pores, gaps or discontinuties in their walls. This is the most common type of capillary Average diameter is about the size of red blood cell diameter= 7 um numerous pinocytotic vesicles are present on both endothelial cell surfaces. Vesicles are responsible for transcytosis of macromolecules in both directions across the endothelial cytoplasm. Function: These allows regulated exchange of material. found in: muscle tissue, connective tissue, exocrine glands, and nervous tissue, lungs and skin.

TYPES OF CAPILLARIES

2.

The fenestrated capillary

characterized by the presence of small circular fenestrae (L, fenestra, perforation) through the very thin squamous endothelial cells. Each fenestra (60-80 nm) is usually covered by a very thin diaphragm containing heparan proteoglycans but no lipid bilayer. The basal lamina of the fenestrated capillaries is continuous, covering the fenestrae. Function: allows more extensive molecular exchange across the endothelium. Fenestrated capillaries are found in tissues where rapid interchange of substances occurs between the tissues and the blood, as in the kidney, the intestine, ciliary body of eye, the choroid plexus and the endocrine glands.

TYPES OF CAPILLARIES

3: The sinusoidal capillary or sinusoid or discontinuous capillary

These have the following characteristics: endothelial cells have large fenestrae without diaphragms; the cells form a discontinuous layer and are separated from one another by wide spaces; Basement membrane incomplete or absent in sinusoidal capillaries Sinusoids are irregularly shaped and have luminal diameters as large as 3040 um, much greater than those of other capillaries. Phagocytic cells are frequently found in their walls. Function: permits maximal and very rapid exchange of macromolecules as well as cells between tissues and blood Sinusoidal capillaries are found in the liver, spleen, some endocrine organs, and bone marrow.

Functions of Endothelium in Blood Vessels

Endothelium provides a permeability barrier and controls the composition of interstitial tissue fluid. Endothelium allows the movement of leukocytes, fluid, and immunoglobulins into tissues. Endothelium provides for angiogenesis in the formation and differentiation of new blood vessels. Endothelium provides signals that regulate the tone of adjacent vascular smooth muscle cells that control blood pressure by vasoconstriction (endothelin) and vasodilation (nitric oxide, prostacyclin).****** Endothelium provides anticoagulant signals (thrombomodulin, nitrous oxide, and prostacyclin) that inhibit platelet attachment and aggregation to prevent blood clotting and allow unobstructed flow of blood in normal conditions.

GENERAL STRUCTURAL PATTERN (PLAN) OF THE BLOOD VESSSELS

GENERAL STRUCTURAL PATTERN (PLAN) OF THE BLOOD VESSSELS

Blood vessels are usually composed of the following concentric layers, or tunics (L. tunica, coat): 1. The tunica intima or intima 2. The tunica media or media 3. The tunica adventitia or tunica externa or adventitia

The tunica intima

The tunica intima is the innermost layer. It has one layer of endothelial cells supported by a thin subendothelial layer of loose connective tissue with occasional smooth muscle cells. In arteries, the intima is separated from the media by an internal elastic lamina, the most external component of the intima. Internal elastic lamina separates tunica intima from tunica media*** The external elastic lamina is composed of elastin and has holes that allow the diffusion of substances to nourish cells deep in the vessel wall. As a result of the loss of blood pressure and contraction of the vessel at death, the tunica intima of arteries may have a slightly folded (corrugated) appearance in tissue sections

The tunica media

The tunica media, the middle layer, 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 of collagen type III, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins, all of which is produced by these cells. In arteries, the media has a thinner external elastic lamina, which separates it from the tunica adventitia. **** External elastic lamina separates tunica media from tunica adventitia.****

The tunica adventitia

The tunica adventitia or tunica externa consists principally of type I collagen and elastic fibers. This adventitial layer is gradually continuous with the stromal connective tissue of the organ through which the blood vessel runs.