Where would you expect to find fenestrated capillaries More

Where would you expect to find fenestrated capillaries? (More than one answer may be correct)

1.      Thyroid

2.      Skeletal muscle

3.      Cardiac muscle

4.      Spleen

Solution

Fenestrated capillaries are capillaries which have pores to faciliate transfer of small molecules through the endothelial membrane. The pores are large enough to allow the passage of small molecules but small enough to not allow any blood cells to leave. They are usually present at sites where molecular exchange is vital, such as the glomerulus.

The pituitary organs consist of fenestrated capillaries, as a it faciliates hormonal transfer more easily.

As the skeletal and cardiac muscles operate under high stress, they contain continous capillaries to avoid rupture. The spleen contains sinusoidal capillaries.