What are capillaries that have been damaged and are now larger or distended called?

• A. Varicose
• B. Couperose
• C. Telangiectasia
• D. Angioma

Answer: (B)

The term that describes capillaries that have been damaged and subsequently become larger or distended is "telangiectasia." These are small dilated blood vessels that can appear on the skin as fine red lines or patterns and commonly occur in areas such as the face and legs. They result from a weakening of the vessel walls, often due to factors like prolonged pressure, sun exposure, or genetic predisposition.

Varicose refers specifically to larger, swollen veins, typically in the legs, which experience increased blood volume and pressure. Couperose is sometimes used to refer to a condition with similar symptoms to telangiectasia, but it doesn’t precisely denote the dilated vessels. An angioma refers to benign tumors made up of blood vessels and can vary in appearance, but they are not specifically about the distension of the capillaries due to damage.

Understanding these distinctions is important, as each term relates to different vascular conditions affecting the skin.