Vascular resistance
Vascular resistance is a term used in medicine and physiology to describe the resistance that must be overcome to push blood through the circulatory system. The term is commonly used in discussions of blood pressure.
Pronunciation
Vascular resistance is pronounced as /ˈvæskjʊlər rɪˈzɪstəns/.
Etymology
The term "vascular" comes from the Latin vasculum, meaning "small vessel", and the term "resistance" comes from the Latin resistentia, meaning "to resist".
Definition
Vascular resistance is the measure of the resistance to blood flow that must be overcome to push blood through the circulatory system. It is determined by the diameter of the blood vessels and the thickness of the vessel walls. The greater the vascular resistance, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood through the body.
Related Terms
- Blood pressure: The pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls.
- Circulatory system: The system that circulates blood and lymph through the body, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, blood, and the lymphatic system.
- Heart: The organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body. The heart is responsible for pumping blood through the body, overcoming the vascular resistance.
- Arteries: The blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vascular resistance
- Wikipedia's article - Vascular resistance
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