End artery

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An end artery is an artery that is the only supply of oxygenated blood to a portion of tissue.

An example of end arteries are the vasa recta that supply the intestines. End arteries are of particular interest to medicine where they supply the heart or brain because if the arteries are occluded the tissue is completely cut off, leading to a myocardial infarction or an ischaemic stroke.

Because vital tissues such as the brain or heart muscle are vulnerable to ischaemia, arteries often form anastomoses to provide alternative supplies of fresh blood.