| Vein: Venule | |
|---|---|
| Illustration of capillary | |
| Latin | venula |
A venule is a very small blood vessel in the microcirculation that allows deoxygenated blood to return from the capillary beds to the larger blood vessels called veins. Venules range from 8 to 100μm in diameter and are formed when capillaries unite (come together).
Venules are blood vessels that drain blood directly from the capillary beds. Many venules unite to form a vein.
Venule walls have three layers: An inner endothelium composed of squamous endothelial cells that act as a membrane, a middle layer of muscle and elastic tissue and an outer layer of fibrous connective tissue. The middle layer is poorly developed so that venules have thinner walls than arterioles. They are extremely porous so that fluid and blood cells can move easily from the bloodstream through their walls.
In contrast to regular venules, high endothelial venules are a special type of venule where the endothelium is made up of simple cuboidal cells. Lymphocytes exit the blood stream and enter the lymph nodes via these specialized venules when an infection is detected.
They form from anastomosis of capillaries, using the beta form of semi-red blood cells and white blood cells to form.
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