What Are Endothelial Cells?
Endothelial cells are a specialized type of body cell that lines the internal surface of all parts of circulatory system, such as the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Endothelial cells are simple squamous epithelium, meaning they have a flat shape are are arranged in a single layer of cells. The endothelial cells provide a smooth surface to keep blood flowing quickly throughout the body, and help prevent blood clots from forming within the circulatory system. The structure formed by the enothelial cells is called the endothelium. The endothelium within the heart is more specifically known as the endocardium. Endothelial cells differ from other epithelial cells in that the cytoskeleton, which provides internal structure to the cell, includes vimentin protein filaments rather than keratin filaments.
