PHYSICAL WELLNESS

your tiny exchange stations

CAPILLARIES

Capillaries are like the alleyways or neighborhood streets of your circulatory system. They’re tiny, thin-walled vessels where oxygen, nutrients, and waste products are exchanged between blood and body tissues.

  • Allow oxygen and nutrients to pass from blood into tissues

  • Remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from tissues into blood

  • Connect arteries (via arterioles) to veins (via venules)

  • Support tissue health and efficient cellular function

  • Help regulate fluid balance in surrounding tissues

CAPILLARY BASICS

Common Terms + Simple Definitions

Here’s a mini glossary for capillary-related words you’ll see throughout the site:

Capillary - Tiny blood vessel where exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste occurs

Arteriole - Small branch of an artery leading to capillaries

Venule - Small branch of a vein receiving blood from capillaries

Exchange - Movement of oxygen, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues

Permeability - How easily substances pass through capillary walls

WHAT CAPILLARIES WORKS WITH

CAPILLARIES + OTHER SYSTEMS

  1. Arterioles → Deliver blood from arteries to capillaries

  2. Venules → Collect blood from capillaries to return it to veins

  3. Tissues & Organs → Exchange oxygen, nutrients, and waste with capillaries

  4. Red Blood Cells → Carry oxygen through capillaries to cells

  5. Lymphatic System → Picks up excess fluid from capillaries to maintain balance

HealthY CAPILLARIES…

Healthy capillaries ensure every cell gets oxygen and nutrients while removing waste efficiently. Maintaining good circulation, staying active, managing blood pressure, and supporting overall vascular health keep these tiny vessels functioning optimally.