Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The tunica adventitia is the outermost layer of a blood vessel's wall. It is primarily composed of connective tissue and serves as a supportive element. In veins, this layer is the thickest. In arteries, it is also a tough layer consisting mainly of collagen fibers. This external covering helps to protect and support the organ it surrounds, particularly the blood vessel.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. vein
  2. artery
  3. adventitia
  4. blood vessel

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.