Word parts
What it means
When the smooth muscle in artery and arteriolear-TEER-ee-ohlA very small artery that carries blood from an artery into the capillaries.arteri/o artery-ole smallFull entry walls relaxes, the vessels widen. More blood reaches the tissue and the blood pressure tends to fall. The body uses it to lose heat (flushed skin), during exercise and in inflammation. Drugs called vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin and hydralazine, cause it on purpose. The opposite, narrowing, is vasoconstriction.
For the nurse
Vasodilating drugs can cause headache, flushing, dizziness and a drop in blood pressure on standing. Check the blood pressure before giving them, and teach the client to rise slowly.
At a glance
| Spanish | vasodilatación |
|---|---|
| Also written | vasodilatation, vasodilate, vasodilated |
Related terms
blood pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.
hypotension
Blood pressure lower than normal, generally below 90/60 mm Hg in an adult.
perfusion
The flow of blood through the body's tissues, bringing them oxygen and nutrients.
arteriole
A very small artery that carries blood from an artery into the capillaries.