Quick Facts
Vascular endothelium is the layer of epithelial cells that lines the lumina of blood vessels; it originates from the mesoderm (Dorland, 2011).
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure
The vascular endothelium is the innermost layer of the vein surrounding the lumen. It is found on top of the basement membrane of the blood vessel. The endothelium is composed of a single layer of cells held very close together forming a continuous sheet.
Anatomical Relations
It is the layer separating the lumen of the blood vessel from the rest of the tissues of the blood vessel.
Function
The endothelium influences blood flow. It manages the exchange of molecules between the blood and surrounding tissues. The endothelium manages the movement of cells in and out of the blood.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Atherosclerosis
- Thrombosis
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
Pawlina, W. 2016. Histology: A text and atlas with correlated cell and molecular biology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
