Microscopic blood vessels that form a network between the smallest arteries (arterioles) and the smallest veins (venules). Through this network, necessary physiologic materials are exchanged to remove carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products while delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissue. Singular form is capillary.
The contents of this glossary is funded in part through a sub-award from RTI as the lead partner for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (2011-DN-BX-K564 and 2016-MU-BK-K110), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies and any services or tools provided).