Examples of vasodilation in the following topics:
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- For example, vasodilation brings more blood and heat to the body surface, facilitating radiation and evaporative heat loss, which helps to cool the body.
- In endotherms, the circulatory system is used to help maintain body temperature, either by vasodilation or vasoconstriction.
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- The movement of materials at the site of capillaries is regulated by vasoconstriction, narrowing of the blood vessels, and vasodilation, widening of the blood vessels; this is important in the overall regulation of blood pressure.
- The elastic, connective tissue stretches and supports the blood vessels, while the smooth muscle layer helps regulate blood flow by altering vascular resistance through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
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- For example, after a large meal, most of the blood is diverted to the stomach by vasodilation (widening) of vessels of the digestive system and vasoconstriction (narrowing) of other vessels.
- During exercise, blood is diverted to the skeletal muscles through vasodilation, while blood to the digestive system would be lessened through vasoconstriction.
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- The atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) hormone lowers blood pressure by acting as a vasodilator (dilating or widening blood vessels).
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- Nitrous oxide is a vasodilator: an agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.