Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the process by which existing blood vessels form new blood vessels. Mature blood vessels typically exist in a quiescent state - neither growing, reproducing, or dying. When triggered by structural or chemical changes, the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel will start to grow, reproduce, and move to new positions to form branches from the previous single vessel. When the process is finished, the cells will go back to their quiescent state lining the newly formed blood vessels.