Which of the following characteristics distinguishes somatic capillaries from visceral capillaries?
Presence or absence of fenestrae
Size of the lumen
Thickness of the vessel wall
Presence or absence of pericytes
Somatic (continuous) capillaries lack fenestrae, whereas visceral (fenestrated) capillaries are characterized by their presence. Both types of capillary possess a continuous basal lamina and are surrounded by occasional pericytes.
Circulation