Final answer:
Arteriovenous anastomoses are the structures that connect vessels through vascular anastomoses, allowing for the direct connection between an arteriole and a venule and bypassing the capillary bed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structures that connect vessels through vascular anastomoses are arteriovenous anastomoses. These are short vessels that directly connect an arteriole to a venule, effectively bypassing the capillary bed. Such connections are vital for rapidly redirecting blood flow in the body's circulatory system and are a type of vascular shunt. It is important to understand that while structures like precapillary sphincters regulate blood flow into the capillaries, it is the arteriovenous anastomoses that connect the vessels and allow for the bypassing of capillary beds.