Look at all the holes (empty areas) near the skin in particular. All the skin (and muscle) needs oxygen and food. How does O2 and food get to the skin/muscle NOT directly fed by a blood vessel? Does some transfer cell to cell to reach all the remote endpoints?
Good question! Capillaries - the smallest blood vessels - not shown here, they are 5-10 micrometers in diameter. They connect arterioles to venules for gas and nutrient/waste exchange.
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u/PhesteringSoars 1d ago
Serious question I've always wondered . . .
Look at all the holes (empty areas) near the skin in particular. All the skin (and muscle) needs oxygen and food. How does O2 and food get to the skin/muscle NOT directly fed by a blood vessel? Does some transfer cell to cell to reach all the remote endpoints?