Endothelium facts for kids
| Endothelium | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Diagram showing the location of endothelial cells | |
 |
|
| Transmission electron micrograph of a microvessel showing endothelial cells, which encircle an erythrocyte (E), forming the innermost layer of the vessel, the tunica intima. | |
| System | Circulatory system |
Endothelium is a layer of cells that line the walls of the circulatory system which carries blood around the body. The cells form a membrane so that certain substances, such as nutrients, can move through the walls. In an adult human there is about 1 kg of endothelium cells, which would cover an area of about 7m2. The endothelium plays an important part in controlling the flow of blood around the body.
Images for kids
-
Endothelium lines the inner wall of vessels, shown here.
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Endothelium Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.