Scanning electron microscopy of the capillary loops in the dermal papillae of the hand in primates, including man.
The microvasculature of the skin of the hand in primates, including man, was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. In this study, the microvascular patterns and structures in different areas of the hand, and the changes in vascular patterns that occur with age, have been described. The typical structure of the capillary loops in the hand can be observed in the ball of the finger of the young adult monkey. The capillary loops were formed out of not just one capillary vessel, but two or three vessels. Each capillary vessel arose and divided into several branches at the papillae, and these became descending limbs. After the loop passed a hairpin turn, the descending limbs were 1.5 times larger than the ascending limbs in the intrapapillary portion, and they became extrapapillary venules. The descending limbs connected with the postcapillary venules in the postpapillary portion and with the horizontal network. The postcapillary venules fused with each other to form the primary and secondary venous arcades. The secondary venous arcades anastomosed with each other and flowed into the subpapillary venules, which run along the dermal furrow in the fingerprint. Changes in vascular patterns with age could be observed. In the infant fingerprint, the vascular systems had not yet differentiated, especially the venous system in the dermis. In the old adult finger, the capillary loops presented complicated features deviating due to aging.
Ikeda
A
A
Department of Anatomy, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Umeda
N
N
Tsuda
K
K
Ohta
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*