Sinusoidal capillaries can be found in the liver, hematopoietic and lymphopoietic organs, and in certain endocrine glands. These tubes with discontinuous endothelial walls have a larger diame ter than other capillaries (up to 40 mm), exhibit irregular cross-sec tional profiles, have more tortuous paths, and often lack a con tinuous basal lamina. Cells with phagocytic activity (macrophages) are present within, or just subjacent to, the endothelium.

New words

capillaries – капилляры

to thin-walled – окруженный тонкой стеной

narrow-diameter – узкий диаметр

low-pressure – низкое давление

that – тот

generally – главным образом

permit – разрешение

easy – легкий

diffusion – распространение

cross-sectional – поперечный

to be composed – быть составленным

simple – простой

endothelium – эндотелий

lining – выравнивание

entire – весь

vas cular – сосудистый

underlying – лежащий в основе

basal – основной

lamina – тонкая пластинка

Правила употребления артикля с географическими названиями.

Определенный артикль употребляется перед названиями рек, каналов, морей, заливов, проливов, океанов, архипелагов, горных цепей.

Артикль не употребляется перед названиям озер, гор, островов, континентов, городов, стран. Исключения:

the United States of America

the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the Netherlands the Ukraine the Crimea the Congo

Answer the questions.

1. Describe capillaries: how do they like?

2. What diameter do the most capillaries have?

3. What are the capillaries composed of?

4. Where are the capillaries attached to?

5. What are pericytes?

6. What do pericytes contain?

7. Where can pericytes be involved?

8. Where can sinusoidal capillaries be found?

9. What diameter have sinusoidal capillaries?

10. With help of what are continuous (muscular, somatic) capillaries formed by?

Make the sentences of your own using the new words (10 sentences).

Find the definite and indefinite articles in the text.

Veins are low-pressure vessels that have larger lumina and thinner walls than arteries. In general, veins have more collagenous connec ti-ve tissue and less muscle and elastic tissue than their arterial coun ter-parts. Although the walls of veins usually exhibit the three layers, they are much less distinct than those of the arter ies. Unlike arteries, veins contain one-way valves composed of exten sions of the intima that prevent reflux of blood away from the heart. Veins can be divided into small veins or venules, medium veins, and large veins.

Venules are the smallest veins, ranging in diameter from approxi mately 15-20 mm (post-capillary venules) up to 1-2 mm (small veins). The walls of the smaller of these are structurally and func tio-nally like those of the capillaries; they consist of an endothelium surrounded by delicate collagen fibers and some pericytes. In those vessels of increased diameter, circularly arranged smooth muscle cells occur surrounding the intima layer, but unlike in the small arteries, these cells are loosely woven and widely spaced. Venules are important in inflammation because their endothelial cells are sensitive to his-tamine released by local mast cells. This causes endothelial cells to contract and separate from each other, exposing a naked basement membrane. Neutrophils stick to the exposed collagen and extravasate (i. e., move out into the connective tissue). Histamine also causes local arterioles to relax, affect ing a rise in venous pressure and increased leaking of fluid. This produces the classic signs of inflammation: redness, heat, and swelling.