A thick-walled blood vessel that connects an arteriole directly with a venule, thus bypassing the capillaries. Arteriovenous anastomoses are commonly found in the skin of the lips, nose, ears, hands, and feet; their muscular walls can constrict to reduce blood flow or dilate to allow blood through to these areas.
Anastomosis between an artery and a vein by which the capillary bed is bypassed.