What is the endothel?
The endothelium is a thin layer of epithelial cells lining the inside of the blood vessels. It balances the entire circulatory system, including the heart and all veins, arteries and capillaries. The endothelium lining the heart is also called endocardium, although it is similar to lining blood vessels. The endothelium forms a barrier between blood and other structures of the circulatory system, allowing blood to flow smoothly, and therefore quickly circulate throughout the body.
The endothelium is a simple spinocellular epithelium, which means that it consists of one layer of flat or spinocellular epithelial cells, making it the thinnest type of membrane. This single layer of cells can also be referred to as monoveries. The epithelium in general is any type of tissue that serves to trim the surface or cavity of any structure in the body. The epithelium is one of the four types of primary tissues in the human body, the others are connective tissue, nervous tissue and muscle tissue.
The endothelium is involved in a number of important functions. Helps control blood pressure by vasodilatingand vasoconstricting, expanding and limiting blood vessels. It also helps in blood clotting, minimizing damage and blood loss in the case of wounds.
other endothelial functions include angiogenesis or growing new blood vessels and serve as a barrier selectively allowing certain materials to get out or enter the bloodstream. In addition to the above functions, the endocardium also controls the development of heart muscle in embryo and adulthood. He is also responsible for the regulation of the myocardial or heart muscle function.
endothelium can also be involved in various failures. Both inflammation, an immune response characterized by redness and swelling and atherosclerosis in which blood vessels are clogged with oily accumulation that prevents blood flow, includes endothelium. Endothelial dysfunction in which the endothelium ceases to function correctly is, among other disturbances of the circulatory system, an early symptom of atherosclerosis. Loss of healthy endotleThe function is also associated with smoking, coronary arteries, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension or high blood pressure. Endothelial disfunction is usually an indicator of future cardiovascular problems.
endocardium is sometimes affected in the case of myocardial or heart attack. In such cases, tissue may damage due to ischemia or insufficient blood supply. Another disorder affecting myocardium is infectious endocarditis or myocardial bacterial infection. Infectious endocarditis can cause symptoms including fever, heart murmur, bleeding and blood in the urine.