Vascular permeability
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Vascular permeability characterizes the capacity of a blood vessel wall to pass through small molecules (ions, water, nutrients) or even whole cells (lymphocytes on their way to the site of inflammation). Blood vessel walls are lined by a single layer of endothelial cells. The gaps between endothelial cells (cell junctions) are strictly regulated depending on the type and physiological state of the tissue.