Blood vessels are the highways of our body, transporting vital substances and maintaining homeostasis. They come in three types: , , and , each with unique structures suited to their functions.
The vascular system does more than just move blood around. It regulates , helps control body temperature, and plays a role in immune responses. Understanding these functions is key to engineering artificial blood vessels.
Vascular Structure and Function
Anatomical structures of blood vessels
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Blood vessels categorized into arteries carry oxygenated blood away from heart, veins return deoxygenated blood to heart, and capillaries facilitate exchange of nutrients and gases
Vessel wall comprises three layers:
Tunica intima forms innermost layer with and basement membrane regulating permeability and preventing thrombosis
Tunica media contains cells and elastic fibers controlling vessel diameter and blood flow
Tunica adventitia consists of connective tissue providing structural support and anchoring vessels to surrounding tissues
Structural variations between vessel types:
Arteries feature thick walls with abundant elastic fibers withstanding high pressure (aorta)
Veins possess thinner walls and valves preventing backflow of blood (saphenous vein)
Capillaries composed of single endothelial layer facilitating efficient exchange (alveolar capillaries)
Functions of vascular system
Blood circulation transports oxygen and nutrients to tissues while removing metabolic waste products (CO2, urea)
Blood pressure regulation occurs through and controlled by autonomic nervous system and local factors ()
Thermoregulation achieved by altering blood flow to skin capillaries dissipating or conserving heat
Immune response facilitated by leukocyte trafficking allowing white blood cells to migrate to sites of infection or injury
Endocrine function involves transport of hormones from endocrine glands to target tissues (insulin, thyroid hormones)
Hemostasis maintained through platelet aggregation and activation of coagulation cascade preventing excessive blood loss (fibrin clot formation)
Endothelial Function and Vascular Mechanics
Endothelial cells in vascular homeostasis
Barrier function maintains selective permeability controlling passage of molecules between blood and tissues
Regulation of vascular tone through production of vasodilators (nitric oxide) and vasoconstrictors (endothelin)
process involves formation of new blood vessels from existing ones crucial for tissue growth and repair
Inflammation modulation by expressing adhesion molecules facilitating leukocyte recruitment to sites of injury
Thrombosis prevention achieved by producing anticoagulant factors (heparin sulfate, thrombomodulin)
Lipid metabolism influenced by endothelial cells through lipoprotein lipase activity breaking down triglycerides
Mechanical properties for tissue engineering
Elasticity refers to vessel's ability to return to original shape after deformation measured by compliance and distensibility
Tensile strength determined by collagen content in vessel walls resisting rupture under high pressure
Viscoelasticity describes time-dependent mechanical behavior combining elastic and viscous properties
Stress-strain relationship exhibits non-linear behavior due to complex structure of vessel walls
Tissue engineering applications require:
Matching mechanical properties of engineered vessels to native tissue ensuring proper function
Designing scaffolds with appropriate stiffness supporting cell growth and differentiation
Considering flow-induced shear stress on cells mimicking physiological conditions
Mechanotransduction involves cellular response to mechanical stimuli converting physical forces into biochemical signals
Remodeling capacity allows blood vessels to adapt to changes in mechanical load through structural modifications