arteriole
Small blood conduit
An arteriole is a small blood vessel that branches from an artery and leads to capillaries.
Arterioles regulate blood flow and pressure through muscular walls that can constrict or dilate: The arterioles in her skin dilated, causing her face to flush.
Smallest blood vessel
- venuleTiny blood vessel
- veinVessel toward heart
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
- lumenLight output measure
smooth muscle · vasculature · vessel · bloodstream · intima · sphincter · anastomosis · bifurcation
Arterial walls contracting inward
- vasodilationRelaxation of vessel walls
- blood flowMovement through vessels
- microcirculationFlow through minute vessels
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
resistance · blood pressure · oxygenation · autoregulation · cardiac output
Chronic elevated arterial pressure
- atherosclerosisArterial plaque accumulation disease
- vasculitisVessel wall inflammation
- ischemiaInsufficient tissue blood supply
- infarctionTissue necrosis from ischemia
thrombosis · embolism · aneurysm · stenosis · occlusion · hypoperfusion
Medications reducing blood pressure
- vasodilatorsAgents widening blood vessels
- beta-blockersHeart rate reducers
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
- diureticsDrugs increasing urine output
capillary
Smallest blood vessel
- venuleTiny blood vessel
- veinVessel toward heart
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
lumen · smooth muscle · vasculature · vessel · bloodstream · intima · sphincter · anastomosis · bifurcation
vasoconstriction
Arterial walls contracting inward
- vasodilationRelaxation of vessel walls
- blood flowMovement through vessels
- microcirculationFlow through minute vessels
perfusion · resistance · blood pressure · oxygenation · autoregulation · cardiac output
hypertension
Chronic elevated arterial pressure
- atherosclerosisArterial plaque accumulation disease
- vasculitisVessel wall inflammation
- ischemiaInsufficient tissue blood supply
infarction · thrombosis · embolism · aneurysm · stenosis · occlusion · hypoperfusion
antihypertensives
Medications reducing blood pressure
- vasodilatorsAgents widening blood vessels
- beta-blockersHeart rate reducers
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
diuretics · alpha-blockers · nitrates · hydralazine · minoxidil