Myogenic mechanism
Myogenic Mechanism
Myogenic mechanism (/maɪoʊˈdʒɛnɪk mɪˈkænɪzəm/) is a physiological process that allows vascular smooth muscle to maintain a state of vascular tone independent of neural input. This mechanism is essential for the autoregulation of blood flow, particularly in organs such as the heart and brain.
Etymology
The term "myogenic" is derived from the Greek words "myo," meaning muscle, and "genesis," meaning origin. The term "mechanism" comes from the Greek word "mekhanē," which means contrivance or device. Thus, "myogenic mechanism" refers to a process originating in the muscle.
Function
The myogenic mechanism is a response to changes in arterial pressure that maintains a constant level of blood flow to certain organs. When arterial pressure increases, the vascular smooth muscle in the walls of arterioles stretches and responds by contracting, thus reducing blood flow. Conversely, when arterial pressure decreases, the vascular smooth muscle relaxes, allowing increased blood flow.
Related Terms
- Vascular smooth muscle: The type of smooth muscle found in the walls of blood vessels.
- Arteriole: A small-diameter blood vessel that extends and branches out from an artery and leads to capillaries.
- Autoregulation: The process by which an organ maintains a constant blood flow despite changes in perfusion pressure.
- Perfusion pressure: The pressure gradient that drives blood flow to tissues.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Myogenic mechanism
- Wikipedia's article - Myogenic mechanism
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