What it means
Capillaries have walls only one cell thick, so oxygen, nutrients and wastes can pass between the blood and the tissues through them. They form a web through every tissue. A "capillary blood glucose" is a fingerstick test, and "capillary refill" is how fast color comes back to a nail bed after it is pressed.
For the nurse
Check capillary refill by pressing a nail bed until it turns pale, then letting go: color should return in less than 3 seconds. A slower refill means poor blood flow to that area and is reported.
In a chart
"Capillary refill less than 3 seconds in all fingers and toes."
At a glance
| Spanish | capilar |
|---|---|
| Also written | capillaries |