[The wall structure of the central vein of the human adrenal glands]

The wall structure of the vena centralis in the human adrenal gland was examined by light and electron microscopy. The longitudinal smooth muscle system in the wall of the central vein was found to be incomplete, eccentric, and located far from the intima. At the junction with smaller veins the muscle system increases in size so that a thickening protrudes the intima into the lumen. A structured intercellular substance of varying width is located between the endothelium and the smooth muscle system, and unmyelinated adrenergic nerve fibres extend to the endothelium. Vasa vasorum are found only in the periphery of the vascular walls. The findings are interpreted as follows: The construction of the vein walls in the medulla of the human adrenal gland acts as a protection against the excessive contractile effect of a small to medium concentration of noradrenalin from the adrenal medulla.