Tunica intima
Inner layer of blood vessel / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The tunica intima (Neo-Latin "inner coat"), or intima for short, is the innermost tunica (layer) of an artery or vein. It is made up of one layer of endothelial cells and is supported by an internal elastic lamina. The endothelial cells are in direct contact with the blood flow.
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Tunica intima | |
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Details | |
Part of | Wall of blood vessels |
Identifiers | |
Latin | tunica intima |
MeSH | D017539 |
TA98 | A12.0.00.018 |
TA2 | 3922 |
TH | H3.09.02.0.01003 |
FMA | 55589 |
Anatomical terminology |
The three layers of a blood vessel are an inner layer (the tunica intima), a middle layer (the tunica media), and an outer layer (the tunica externa).
In dissection, the inner coat (tunica intima) can be separated from the middle (tunica media) by a little maceration, or it may be stripped off in small pieces; but, because of its friability, it cannot be separated as a complete membrane. It is a fine, transparent, colorless structure which is highly elastic, and, after death, is commonly corrugated into longitudinal wrinkles.