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The mysterious vascular network: Why does the structure of large arteries lead to an increased risk of aneurysm?
In the deep physiological structure of the human body, blood vessels are not just pipes. Blood flows through them. There is also a mysterious small network called "vasa vasorum" by some medical experts. ”. By understanding how these small vessels supply the larger vessels and how their structure affects the health of the large arteries, we may be able to understand why certain arteries are more susceptible to aneurysms.
Structure and function of vasa vasorum
The significance of these small vessels is that they provide essential nutrients to the internal structures of the larger vessels, especially the vasculature that are too large to receive their blood supply by diffusion alone. It is understood that vasa vasorum is divided into three main types:
1. vasa vasorum internae: It arises directly from the main lumen of the aorta and then branches out into the interior of the blood vessel wall.
2. vasa vasorum externae: branches from the aorta and then re-enters the wall of the aorta.
3. venous vasa vasorae: branches that originate from the walls of arteries but ultimately empty into the main lumen of the aorta or the accompanying veins.
These structural relationships show that the architecture of the large arteries affects the distribution and function of small blood vessels, especially in the large arteries, where the vasa vasorum penetrates into the mantle and middle layers, and even approaches the inner mantle layer.
Clinical significance and risk of aneurysm
In the descending aorta in humans, vasa vasorum stops supplying oxygen to the aorta's mid-layer at the renal arteries. This makes this part of the artery dependent on diffusion to meet its metabolic needs, and the arteries in this area are abnormally weak in structure. Therefore, the incidence of aneurysms increases significantly at this location, especially under the influence of atherosclerotic plaques.
"There is an interactive relationship between the deficiency of vasa vasorum and the formation of aneurysms."
Some animal species, such as dogs, have vasa vasorum beneath the renal vessels, which makes these species less likely to develop aneurysms even under similar circumstances. This means that the presence or absence of vasa vasorum appears to be an indicator of arterial health.
Vasa vasorum and arterial diseaseAs proposed by Haverich in 2017, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques within arteries may result from inflammation of the vasa vasorum rather than simply from internal pressure. This led us to rethink the true role of Vasa vasorum in vascular health. Once these small blood vessels are damaged, they can affect the health of surrounding blood vessels, causing further damage and changes.
"Small blood vessels such as the vasa vasorum are extremely sensitive to external compression, which makes them part of the pathological process in peripheral vascular and neurological diseases."
A tear in any of the vasa vasorum in an artery may trigger a pathological chain reaction and even lead to aortic dissection. Therefore, understanding the morphology of these small blood vessels and their interactions is crucial for preventing and treating artery-related diseases.
ConclusionWhile the existence of vasa vasorum remains to be further explored and understood, they are clearly closely related to the health of the aorta. Will these vascular changes become the key to preventing cardiovascular disease in the future, worthy of further attention and research from the medical community?
