Rete mirabile

A rete mirabile ( Latin for " miraculous power ", plural: Retia mirabilia ) is a branch of an artery in a network of the finest arteries, and not subsequently combined into a vein, but in turn to an artery.

In all vertebrates networks such miracles occur in the glomeruli of the kidney. Here, an arteriole ( afferent arteriole glomerularis ) branches into a fine capillary network ( glomerulus ), which in turn translates into an arteriole ( efferent arteriole glomerularis ) collects. The latter is then, as usual in the circulatory system common in a capillary through which flows in the veins. In the case of the glomeruli this miracle network is used for ultrafiltration of the primary urine from the blood.

Furthermore miracles occur networks in some other arteries:

• In artiodactyls of the internal carotid artery
• In ruminants on the external ophthalmic artery ( ophthalmic artery externa)
• In cats at the maxillary artery ( maxillary )
• At Loris on the hands and feet
• In fish ( Physoclisten ) for filling the swim bladder

The functional significance of these formations has not been elucidated in many species.

In tunas and sharks wonders networks serve as a counter -current heat exchanger of thermoregulation. The Schwimmuskeln generate a lot of heat in these animals, through the wonders networks, the heat is retained in the body core and the vital organs have thus a higher temperature than the surrounding water. The wonders networks are here, however, from relatively thick-walled vessels and do not allow gas exchange. The Physoclisten they support the enrichment of the swim bladder with oxygen and with other fish species, the oxygen supply to the retina.

Furthermore, there are also miracles venous networks as branches of the portal vein in the liver and the Hypophysenpfortader in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

• Artery