Microcirculation is a complex process of blood movement in the smallest vessels of the body, which ensures vital tissue metabolism and includes transport of blood and lymph to microvessels, exchange between blood capillaries and interstitial fluid, and redistribution of blood through special vascular connections (arteriovenous anastomoses).
The microcirculatory bed (MCB) consists of a branched vascular network. Its main structural elements are:
- Terminal arterioles β small arteries preceding capillaries;
- Metarterioles β intermediate vessels;
- Precapillary sphincters β regulatory elements;
- Capillaries β main exchange vessels;
- Venules β small venous vessels;
- Arteriovenous anastomoses β connections between arterioles and venules;
The diameter of arterial-type vessels does not exceed 50β100 ΞΌm, venous-type vessels β 200 ΞΌm, lymphatic microvessels β 300 ΞΌm.
The main functions of microcirculation include regulation of blood flow in tissues, exchange of gases and nutrients, and maintaining tissue homeostasis. This ensures effective communication between cells and microvessels.