Blood Brain Barrier

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 More General Terms 3 Additional Terms 4 References

Introduction

• A continuous layer of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, opposing the passage of most ions & large molecular weight compounds from the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid & brain tissue. Similar capillaries are found in the retina, iris, inner ear & endoneurium of peripheral nerves.

• In circumventricular organs, the blood brain barrier is absent; the endothelium is fenestrated. The blood- CSF barrier is provided by tight junctions between ependymal cells.

More General Terms

• vascular endothelium

Additional Terms

• circumventricular organ

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999

blood brain barrier