Skip to main content
. 2021 Jul 31;11(8):1131. doi: 10.3390/biom11081131

Figure 1.

Figure 1

The blood–brain barrier (BBB). The neurovascular unit is the principal anatomical and functional structure of the BBB. BMECs, thoroughly closed between them by tight and adherens junctions, and surrounded by large pericytes and the basal lamina matrix, constitute the vessels of the neurovascular unit. Neurons, microglia and the endfeet of astrocytes constitute the microenvironment which supports and communicates with the vessel components of the neurovascular unit. Image created with BioRender.com (accessed on 17 June 2021).