The origin of the follicular capillaries in the human spleen

The major arteries which supply the follicular capillaries in the human spleen do not arise as they do in most mammals as lateral or radial branches from the central artery but come from penicillar arteries which penetrate the marginal zone and enter the follicle at various points around its circumference. Such arteries may have a very short course through the red pulp or they may pursue very long courses. Upon entering the follicle, these arteries branch a number of times, the branches remaining together in a tight array of parallel arterioles along with capillaries formed from them, the whole bundle being enveloped by a reticular fiber sheath. There is thus formed an arteriolar-capillary bundle. The whole bundle may branch. From the sides, especially from its central end, arterioles and capillaries radiate out to all parts of the follicle to terminate in the marginal zone or in the follicle itself.