- Capillaries around the nephron, specifically the Loop of Henle, in the medulla that run parallel to the tubules
Definition Breakdown
- “Vasa” comes from the Latin root vās, which means vessels
- “Recta” comes from rēctus, which means straight
- The term “straight vessel” should give you a hint into the difference between the vasa recta and the peritubular capillaries
- Peritubular capillaries are more web-like
| Vasa Recta | Peritubular Capillaries |
|---|---|
| Renal Medulla | Renal Cortex |
| Straight, parallel to tubules | Web-like |