capillary

Definition / meaning of capillary

The smallest type of blood vessel. A capillary connects an arteriole (small artery) to a venule (small vein) to form a network of blood vessels in almost all parts of the body. The wall of a capillary is thin and leaky, and capillaries are involved in the exchange of fluids and gases between tissues and the blood.

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Source(s):

The Web site of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/)

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