What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system in regulating arteriolar resistance?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the function of the sympathetic nervous system in managing the resistance of arterioles, which are small blood vessels. It presents multiple-choice options regarding how the sympathetic nervous system affects blood vessel behavior.
Answer
The sympathetic nervous system regulates arteriolar resistance via vasoconstriction to increase vascular resistance and maintain blood pressure.
The sympathetic nervous system regulates arteriolar resistance through vasoconstriction, which increases peripheral vascular resistance and maintains or increases blood pressure, allowing adequate organ perfusion.
Answer for screen readers
The sympathetic nervous system regulates arteriolar resistance through vasoconstriction, which increases peripheral vascular resistance and maintains or increases blood pressure, allowing adequate organ perfusion.
More Information
The sympathetic nervous system's primary role is to manage stress responses, impacting how blood pressure and flow are regulated, which is vital for survival in various situations.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming that the sympathetic nervous system only causes vasoconstriction. While it primarily causes vasoconstriction, it can also cause vasodilation in specific cases like coronary vessels.
Sources
- Sympathetic Nervous System Contributions to Hypertension - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Sympathetic Neural Mechanisms in Human Cardiovascular Health - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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