Word parts
What it means
The smallest branches of the arteries. Their walls have smooth muscle that can tighten or relax, which changes how much blood flows into a tissue and helps set the blood pressure. Blood passes from the arterioles into the capillaryKAP-ih-lair-eeOne of the tiniest blood vessels, joining the smallest arteries to the smallest veins.Full entry , where oxygen and nutrients move into the tissues.
At a glance
| Also written | arterioles, arteriolar |
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Related terms
blood pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.
capillary
One of the tiniest blood vessels, joining the smallest arteries to the smallest veins.
artery
A blood vessel that takes blood from the heart out to the body.
vasodilation
The widening of blood vessels as the muscle in their walls relaxes, which lets more blood flow through.