Aderdoorsnede

Aderdoorsnede is a Dutch term meaning cross-section of a blood vessel. It refers to a plane cut perpendicular to the vessel’s axis, yielding a view of the lumen and the surrounding vessel wall. In histology this concept is studied by preparing thin sections of tissue, staining them, and examining the layered structure.

A typical vessel cross-section shows the three principal wall layers: tunica intima (the inner endothelial lining), tunica media (muscle and elastic tissue), and tunica adventitia (connective tissue). In arteries the wall is relatively thick with a prominent tunica media, resulting in a relatively small lumen, while veins have thinner walls and often larger lumens. Larger arteries may contain vasa vasorum, small vessels that supply the vessel walls themselves. Valves, common in many veins, may appear in cross-sections as leaflet-like structures.

In pathology, examining the aderdoorsnede helps identify normal versus diseased states. Atherosclerosis appears as intimal thickening and lipid-rich plaques that narrow the lumen; aneurysms show dilation of the vessel wall. Cross-sectional analysis also allows measurement of lumen diameter and wall thickness, which are relevant for assessing blood flow and risk of complications.

In medical imaging, cross-sectional views produced by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide non-invasive aderdoorsnede representations of vessels, enabling evaluation of caliber, plaques, stenosis, dissections, and other vascular conditions.

The term originates from Dutch, combining ader (vessel) and doorsnede (cross-section). It is a standard concept in anatomy and histology, complementing longitudinal views to understand vessel structure and pathology.