What term describes the relaxation and widening of blood vessels caused by nitric oxide?
Answer
Vasodilation
Vasodilation is the precise physiological term used to describe the active process where the smooth muscles within the walls of blood vessels relax, leading to the widening of the vessel lumen. This widening is directly linked to the action of nitric oxide, a powerful signaling molecule released in response to stimuli like capsaicin binding to TRPV1 receptors. The significance of vasodilation in cardiovascular health is profound: by increasing the diameter of the pathways through which blood flows, the overall peripheral resistance drops. This decreased resistance means the heart does not have to pump with as much force to move blood throughout the body, resulting in a tangible reduction in blood pressure measurements.
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