Which type of blood vessel connects arterioles and venules?

Capillaries are the small blood vessels that serve as the connection between arterioles and venules. They play a crucial role in the circulatory system by facilitating the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues. The walls of capillaries are extremely thin, allowing for this exchange to occur efficiently at the cellular level.

Arterioles, which are smaller branches of arteries, carry oxygenated blood away from the heart and become narrower as they progress into the capillary network. After passing through the capillaries, the blood transitions into venules, which then converge to form veins that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. The primary function of capillaries in connecting these two types of vessels is essential for maintaining proper tissue perfusion and overall metabolic functions in the body.