Vasa vasorum | |
---|---|
Details | |
Part of | Wall of large blood vessels |
System | Circulatory system |
Identifiers | |
Latin | vasa vasorum |
MeSH | D014651 |
TA98 | A12.0.00.028 |
TH | H3.09.02.0.06001 |
FMA | 77433 |
Anatomical terminology |
Vasa vasorum are small blood vessels that comprise a vascular network supplying the walls of large blood vessels, such as elastic arteries (e.g., the aorta) and large veins (e.g., the venae cavae).
The name derives from Latin 'the vessels of the vessels'. Occasionally two different singular forms are seen: vasa vasis (from Latin 'the vessels of a vessel') and vas vasis (from Latin 'a vessel of a vessel').
Studies conducted with 3D micro-CT on pig and human arteries from different vascular beds have shown that there are three different types of vasa vasorum:
Depending on the type of vasa vasorum, it penetrates the vessel wall starting at the intimal layer (vasa vasorum interna) or the adventitial layer (vasa vasorum externa). Due to higher radial and circumferential pressures within the vessel wall layers closer to the main lumen of the artery, vasa vasorum externa cannot perfuse these regions of the vessel wall (occlusive pressure).
The structure of the vasa vasorum varies with the size, function and location of the vessels. Cells need to be within a few cell-widths of a capillary to stay alive. In the largest vessels, the vasa vasorum penetrates the outer (tunica adventitia) layer and middle (tunica media) layer almost to the inner (tunica intima) layer. In smaller vessels it penetrates only the outer layer. In the smallest vessels, the vessels' own circulation nourishes the walls directly and they have no vasa vasorum at all.
Vasa vasorum are more frequent in veins than arteries. [2] Some authorities hypothesize that the vasa vasorum would be more abundant in large veins, as partial oxygen pressure and osmotic pressure is lower in veins. This would lead to more vasa vasorum needed to supply the vessels sufficiently. The converse argument is that generally artery walls are thicker and more muscular than veins as the blood passing through is of a higher pressure. This means that it would take longer for any oxygen to diffuse through to the cells in the tunica adventitia and the tunica media, causing them to need a more extensive vasa vasorum.
A later method of scanning is optical coherence tomography that also gives 3D imaging. [3]
The vasa vasorum are found in large veins and arteries such as the aorta and its branches. These small vessels serve to provide blood supply and nourishment for tunica adventitia and outer parts of tunica media of large vessels. [4]
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Vasa vasorum | |
---|---|
Details | |
Part of | Wall of large blood vessels |
System | Circulatory system |
Identifiers | |
Latin | vasa vasorum |
MeSH | D014651 |
TA98 | A12.0.00.028 |
TH | H3.09.02.0.06001 |
FMA | 77433 |
Anatomical terminology |
Vasa vasorum are small blood vessels that comprise a vascular network supplying the walls of large blood vessels, such as elastic arteries (e.g., the aorta) and large veins (e.g., the venae cavae).
The name derives from Latin 'the vessels of the vessels'. Occasionally two different singular forms are seen: vasa vasis (from Latin 'the vessels of a vessel') and vas vasis (from Latin 'a vessel of a vessel').
Studies conducted with 3D micro-CT on pig and human arteries from different vascular beds have shown that there are three different types of vasa vasorum:
Depending on the type of vasa vasorum, it penetrates the vessel wall starting at the intimal layer (vasa vasorum interna) or the adventitial layer (vasa vasorum externa). Due to higher radial and circumferential pressures within the vessel wall layers closer to the main lumen of the artery, vasa vasorum externa cannot perfuse these regions of the vessel wall (occlusive pressure).
The structure of the vasa vasorum varies with the size, function and location of the vessels. Cells need to be within a few cell-widths of a capillary to stay alive. In the largest vessels, the vasa vasorum penetrates the outer (tunica adventitia) layer and middle (tunica media) layer almost to the inner (tunica intima) layer. In smaller vessels it penetrates only the outer layer. In the smallest vessels, the vessels' own circulation nourishes the walls directly and they have no vasa vasorum at all.
Vasa vasorum are more frequent in veins than arteries. [2] Some authorities hypothesize that the vasa vasorum would be more abundant in large veins, as partial oxygen pressure and osmotic pressure is lower in veins. This would lead to more vasa vasorum needed to supply the vessels sufficiently. The converse argument is that generally artery walls are thicker and more muscular than veins as the blood passing through is of a higher pressure. This means that it would take longer for any oxygen to diffuse through to the cells in the tunica adventitia and the tunica media, causing them to need a more extensive vasa vasorum.
A later method of scanning is optical coherence tomography that also gives 3D imaging. [3]
The vasa vasorum are found in large veins and arteries such as the aorta and its branches. These small vessels serve to provide blood supply and nourishment for tunica adventitia and outer parts of tunica media of large vessels. [4]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite book}}
: |first=
has generic name (
help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)