Tunica externa (vessels)

Tunica externa (vessels)

Infobox Anatomy
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = tunica externa vasorum, tunica adventitia vasorum
GraySubject = 133
GrayPage = 499


Caption = Section of a medium-sized artery.


Caption2 = Transverse section through a small artery and vein of the mucous membrane of the epiglottis of a child. (Tunica adventitia is at 'a')
Precursor =
System =
Artery =
Vein =
Nerve =
Lymph =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = t_22
DorlandsSuf = 12831733
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

ee also

* Adventitia
* Tunica media
* Tunica intima

External links

* - "Bird, vessels (LM, High)"
*
* [http://biology.about.com/library/organs/heart/bltunica3.htm Image at About.com]


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