Microcirculation in muscle.

The microvascular architecture in muscle is reviewed herein. The intrinsic vasculature is similar in different muscles. There are numerous arterioarterial (100 microns diameter) and venovenous (150 microns) anastomoses creating a large microscopical network. End-arterioles (30 microns), end-venules (50 microns), and capillaries (6 microns) form a smaller microscopical network. There are no arteriovenous shunts. Precapillary arterial vessels larger than 10 microns have one or several layers of smooth muscle cells. There are no precapillary sphincters. Postcapillary vessels larger than 15 microns have one continuous layer of smooth muscle cells. Calculations show that the cross-sectional area is the smallest and hence resistance the greatest in arterioles of 22 microns and venules of 40 microns. There is better physiological support for giving plasma expanders, such as dextran, rather than vasodilators in low flow situations.