The Endothelium reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Endothelium

Endothelium is the tissue that lines blood vessels and the inside of the heart (where it's called endocardium).

Despite its small size, endothelium performs a large number of functions and is the subject of a lot of scientific research, specifically in the (relatively recent) field of vascular medicine.

Endothelial cells are mononuclear and form tight junctions. In capillaries, endothelium and pericytes are the only cell types. In larger blood vessels, endothelium forms the inner lining.

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