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Continuous Capillaries

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The most common and least permeable to capillaries

Tunica Externa

Absent

Tunica Media

Absent

Tunica Interna (Intimia)

Continuous capillaries are the most common capillary in the human body and is the least permeable capillary.  These capillaries have intercellular clefts (spaces) between the simple squamous epithelial cells of the endothelium. However, the clefts are quite small, which leads to the low permeability.  

Lumen

Big enough for only one erythrocyte

Microscopic image features a pink-stained villous cross-section. Visible capillaries present as circles or ovals; some with central radial patterns. Dark circular nuclei scattered throughout the villous tissue. Image displays moderate contrast with a light background.
Figure 1: Microscopic view of continuous capillaries in a placental cross section.
Microscopic image showcasing capillaries after Verhoff staining. The composition highlights clustered capillaries with red cellular components, contrasting against a light, neutral background of connective tissue. The visual texture is intricate, with branching patterns and open lumens visible with sharp focus. The overall color palette is dominated by shades of red and light beige.
Figure 2: Verhoff stain showing capillaries. Cellular structures visible in shades of red against a light background.

Figure 1: Placenta, late, H&E, 40X Slide 255
Figure 2: Slide 303 Artery & vein, Verhoeff stain,
All by University of Michigan Histology, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

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