What do capillaries connect in the circulatory system?

Capillaries serve as the crucial connection points between arteries and veins in the circulatory system. They are tiny blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and the surrounding tissues.

As arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and into the body, they branch into smaller arterioles, which then lead to the capillary networks. Within these capillaries, the oxygen and nutrients are delivered to cells, while carbon dioxide and wastes are collected for removal. After passing through the capillaries, the now oxygen-poor blood converges into venules, which drain into veins, returning the deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

This connection is vital for sustaining cellular health and ensuring that the body's tissues receive the necessary supplies while removing waste products efficiently. The function of capillaries in connecting arteries to veins is fundamental to the overall dynamics of the circulatory system.