capillary

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capillary (blood capillary) The narrowest type of blood vessel in the vertebrate circulatory system. Capillaries conduct blood from arterioles to all living cells: their walls are only one cell layer thick, so that oxygen and nutrients can pass through them into the surrounding tissues. Capillaries also transport waste material (e.g. urea and carbon dioxide) to venules for ultimate excretion. Capillaries can be constricted or dilated, according to local tissue requirements. See microcirculation.

capillary , microscopic blood vessel, smallest unit of the circulatory system . Capillaries form a network of tiny tubes throughout the body, connecting arterioles (smallest arteries ) and venules (smallest veins ). Through the thin capillary walls, which are composed of a single layer of cells, the nutritive material and oxygen in the blood pass into the body tissues, and waste matter and carbon dioxide in turn are absorbed from the tissues into the bloodstream.

cap·il·lar·y / ˈkapəˌlerē/ • n. 1. Anat. any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules. 2. (also capillary tube) a tube that has an internal diameter of hairlike thinness. • adj. of or relating to capillaries or capillarity.

capillary Smallest of blood vessels, connecting arteries and veins. They are about 0.1mm (0.004in) in diameter. Capillary walls consist of only a single layer of cells, so that water containing dissolved oxygen and other nutrients (as well as carbon dioxide and other wastes) can pass easily between the blood and surrounding tissues.

capillary (kă-pil-er-i) n. an extremely narrow blood vessel. Capillaries form networks in most tissues; they are supplied with blood by arterioles and drained by venules. The vessel wall is only one cell thick, which enables exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, salts, etc., between the blood and the tissues.

capillary In the blood-circulation system of vertebrates, the narrowest blood vessel, with walls, only one cell thick, through which molecules can pass to transfer oxygen and nutrients to cells and to remove waste products.

capillary In the blood-circulation system of vertebrates, the narrowest blood vessel, with walls only one cell thick, through which molecules can pass to transfer oxygen and nutrients to cells and to remove waste products.

capillary of hair, hair-like. XVII. — L. capillāris, f. capillus hair; after F. capillaire; see -ARY.

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