Physiology and Pathophysiology of Microcirculation

International audienceMicrocirculation is the vascular compartments corresponding to vessels, the bore of which ranges from about five to a few hundred μm. Microcirculation possesses four main categories of conduits: arterioles, capillaries, venules, and terminal lymphatic vessels.Microcirculatory driving pressure decreases from about 10.5–16 kPa (80–120 mmHg) in a supplying arteriole (bore 120 μm) to about 2.7 kPa (20 mmHg) in a draining venule (bore 120 μm).Microcirculation regulates blood flow distribution within organs, nutrient delivery, transcapillary exchanges, and removal of cell wastes