Krogh's Nobel prize for insightful studies into the physiology of capillaries heralded a revolution in understanding that continues today. The view of passive conduits has been replaced by capillaries recognised as a key element in haemodynamic control, offering both a site where changes in tissue demand are sensed and a driver of integrated vascular responses. In addition, the capillary bed is known to play an important role in metabolic, hormonal and immune homeostasis. Not surprisingly, therefore, microvascular dysfunction is a hallmark of many central and peripheral diseases, leading to widespread morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there is growing interest in how best to specifically target this organ-system by means of effective angiotherapies. Underpinning a lot of our current understanding of capillary physiology has been a recognition of functional heterogeneity among different microvascular beds. In addition, there is increasing awareness of the role that spatial heterogeneity plays in determining both physiological and pathological outcomes that has led to an appreciation that quality, rather than just quantity of microvascular supply is important. This has required a re-appraisal of the methods used to determine both the extent and topology of the capillary network, with the benefit of facilitating new ways of exploring dynamic regulation of capillary supply and its potential consequences.

克罗因对毛细血管生理学有深刻见解的研究而获得诺贝尔奖，这预示着一场持续至今的理解革命。被动导管的观点已被毛细血管所取代，毛细血管被认为是血液动力学控制的关键要素，既提供了感知组织需求变化的部位，又提供了综合血管反应的驱动力。此外，已知毛细血管床在代谢、激素和免疫稳态中发挥重要作用。因此，毫不奇怪，微血管功能障碍是许多中枢和外周疾病的标志，导致广泛的发病率和死亡率。因此，人们越来越关注如何通过有效的血管治疗来最好地靶向该器官系统。我们目前对毛细血管生理学的许多理解的基础是对不同微血管床之间功能异质性的认识。此外，人们越来越意识到空间异质性在决定生理和病理结果方面所起的作用，这导致人们认识到质量，而不仅仅是微血管供应的数量很重要。这需要重新评估用于确定毛细血管网络的范围和拓扑结构的方法，以促进探索毛细血管供应的动态调节及其潜在后果的新方法。人们越来越意识到空间异质性在决定生理和病理结果方面所起的作用，这导致人们认识到质量，而不仅仅是微血管供应的数量很重要。这需要重新评估用于确定毛细血管网络的范围和拓扑结构的方法，以促进探索毛细血管供应的动态调节及其潜在后果的新方法。人们越来越意识到空间异质性在决定生理和病理结果方面所起的作用，这导致人们认识到质量，而不仅仅是微血管供应的数量很重要。这需要重新评估用于确定毛细血管网络的范围和拓扑结构的方法，以促进探索毛细血管供应的动态调节及其潜在后果的新方法。