Tunica externa (vessels)
(Redirected from Outer coat)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
The tunica externa, also known as the tunica adventitia, is the outermost layer of a blood vessel, surrounding the tunica media. It is mainly composed of collagen. The collagen serves to anchor the blood vessel to nearby organs, giving it stability.
Pathology
A common pathological disorder concerning the tunica externa is scurvy, also known as vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy occurs because vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, and without it, the faulty collagen cannot maintain the vein walls, and they rupture, leading to a wide multitude of problems.
Additional images
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Schematic view of an artery -
Anatomy of the arterial wall
See also
External links
- Template:UCDavisOrganology - "Bird, vessels (LM, High)"
- Template:EMedicineDictionary
- Image at About.com