kärlväggen

Kärlväggen refers to the wall of a blood vessel in Swedish. This structure is crucial for the circulatory system, providing support and regulating blood flow. The composition and thickness of the kärlväggen vary depending on the type of blood vessel. Arteries, which carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, have thicker and more muscular kärlväggar than veins, which return deoxygenated blood to the heart. Capillaries, the smallest blood vessels, have extremely thin kärlväggar, often just a single layer of cells, to facilitate the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and tissues.

The kärlväggen of arteries and veins consists of three main layers. The innermost layer is the tunica intima, which is a smooth lining that reduces friction. The middle layer is the tunica media, composed primarily of smooth muscle and elastic fibers, which allows the vessel to contract and relax, influencing blood pressure and flow. The outermost layer is the tunica adventitia, made of connective tissue, which anchors the vessel to surrounding tissues. Diseases affecting the kärlväggen, such as atherosclerosis, can lead to serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes by narrowing or blocking blood vessels.