Question

Arterioles can respond to local demands in blood flow. if receptors in the arteriole wall detect an increase in carbon dioxide concentration and a decrease in oxygen concentration, how will it respond?

A) contract harder to create a greater blood pulse.

B) constrict to raise local blood pressure.

C) dilate to create greater blood flow.

Answer 1

C dialate to create greater blood flow

Hypoxic vasodilation is another fast response that increases perfusion of blood to the O2-deprived tissues. This is particularly well evoked in coronary and cerebral vessels. Hypoxic vasodilation is at least in part mediated by the KATP channels of vascular smooth muscle cells which open well in response to hypoxia-induced decrease in ATP However, there are other O2-sensitive ionic mechanisms also involved, most probably by regulating Ca2+influx.