RESUMEN
Objective To study the architecture of the subpleural pulmonary microvasculature and its functional relationship in the bactrian camel. Methods The replica scanning electron microscopic method was used. Results According to their continuous branches,the subpleural pulmonary microvasculatures were recognized into four grades: arteriole,terminal arteriole,precapillary arteriole and capillary.The subpleural pulmonary capillaries generally came from the subpleural precapillary arteriole and communicated each other to form the subpleural pulmonary capillary network.Sometimes,the subpleural terminal arteriole directly gave rise to capillaries to unite with the subpleural pulmonary capillary network.The network was loose,in which the diameter of the mesh was larger than that of the capillary,and the mesh was often hexagon and pentagon in appearance.There were obvious imprints of the smooth muscles on the surface of the casts of the subpleural pulmonary arteriole,the terminal arteriole and the precapillary arteriole.On the surface of the casts of the subpleural pulmonary capillary,there were obvious imprints of the endothelial nuclei as well.In addition,the broad and different level communications were found among the pulmonary interstitial capillary and subpleural pulmonary microvasculature.Conclusion There were no significant differences on the architecture of the subpleural pulmonary microvasculature between the bactrian camel and other kind of mammals.