End artery

End Artery

File:End artery.png

Illustration of an end artery

An end artery (also known as a terminal artery) is a type of artery that does not anastomose with any other artery, meaning it is the only supply of blood to a certain tissue or organ. This is in contrast to collateral circulation, where multiple arteries supply the same region.

Structure

End arteries are typically small, with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm. They are found in various parts of the body, including the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs. The structure of end arteries is similar to other arteries, with three layers: the tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica adventitia.

Function

The primary function of end arteries is to deliver oxygenated blood to specific tissues or organs. Because they do not anastomose with other arteries, any blockage in an end artery can lead to ischemia or infarction of the tissue it supplies.

Clinical significance

Understanding the distribution of end arteries is important in medical procedures such as surgery and angiography. For example, in coronary artery bypass grafting, surgeons must be aware of the end arteries in the heart to avoid causing damage.

See also

• Anastomosis
• Arteriole
• Capillary
• Vasoconstriction
• Vasodilation

External links

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to End arteries.