ABSTRACT
Microcirculation plays a central role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The major functions include removal of waste products and delivery of nutrients to the perfused parenchymal tissue. For this reason, the formation of a functional microcirculation within tissue-engineered constructs is essential for composite tissue function. The complexity of specialized microvascular beds was identied by developmental biologists and morphologists who established the unique structure/function relationships of the microcirculation in various tissues. Complete restoration of microvascular function in engineered tissues following their implantation in a patient will require careful consideration of the morphology of the microcirculation constructed in the engineered tissue.
