Download Tunica Intima Function In Artery Images. The tunica media, or middle coat, is made up principally of smooth (involuntary) muscle cells and elastic fibres…. How is the tunica intima different from an artery?
The endothelial cells are in direct contact with the blood flow. An inner tunica intima consisting of endothelial cells and subendothelial extracellular matrix (ecm), a thick muscular tunica media composed of vascular smooth muscle cells (vsmcs), and an outermost tunica adventitia composed of collagenous ecm and containing a network of finely lined blood vessels called the vasa vasorum. The three basic components of blood vessel walls, tunica intima, media, and externa, are present.
The material of the inside layer is made of endothelial cells that are characterized by their extremely elastic properties.
In smaller arterioles or venules, this subendothelial layer consists of a single layer of cells, but can be much thicker in larger vessels such as the aorta. The tunica intima is composed of a thin layer of endothelial cells and lines the entire circulatory system, from your heart and the large arteries all the way down to the very tiny capillary beds. The three layers of a blood vessel are an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. The endothelial cells are in direct contact with the blood flow.