why are capillaries only one cell thick?

Question

the ones near your heart

Answer 1

You want them thin so molecules can easily diffuse across the capillary wall (e.g.: to allow CO2 to enter the capillaries to be removed from the body, O2 to be easily diffused across to oxygenate the cells around it, waste to be removed etc.)

Answer 2

All capillaries are one cell layer thick, not just the ones near your heart.

Diffusion is not a fast process and substances don't diffuse far. For those reasons, no cell in the body is more than two cells away from a capillary. The thin walls enable nutrient and oxygen molecules to move more quickly and efficiently from the blood into the cells.

Answer 3

for easy diffusion...as your blood pressure rises your capillaries will leak water out through its thin walls to try and counter balance the high pressure. There is also a counter-counter balance. The capillaries also can take in water (as well as other wastes and gases) the more fluid the caps take in the higher the osmotic pressure. (More solutes in your caps the higher your OP).

Answer 4

They have to diffuse oxygen and minerals to all the body cells. It is thin so that the nitrients can diffuse easily and no cell is left..

Answer 5

Because they have to penetrate into the nooks and crannies of the human body- so it helps their accessibility if they are thin. Also helps easy exchange of gases.

Answer 6

to ensure easy exchange of gases