Hi,
As I'm doing physics practice questions, I am very confused by this concept: last week, I learnt that vasodilation = larger diameter than vasoconstriction, provides less Resistance to blood flow, hence giving lower Pressure and higher velocity. today, I came across this practice question: when blood flows through an artery, it exerts pressure on the surrounding arterial wall. compared to a section of healthy artery of equal size, a narrowed section of diseased artery experiences a pressure on the surrounding arterial wall that is:
D. smaller, because the flow velocity increases = right answer
I chose A = greater, because the flow velocity decreases. I chose this based on what I learnt last week. I thought the question was explaining the situation of vasoconstriction based on the key word "narrowed" in the question. I understand the book's explanation that based on the continuity equation, since A decreased v increases, and since v increased, Pressure is smaller. but now I'm confused on why vasoconstriction decreases blood flow and velocity, and increases pressure and why its the opposite case here?? What's the difference between the two situations?
As I'm doing physics practice questions, I am very confused by this concept: last week, I learnt that vasodilation = larger diameter than vasoconstriction, provides less Resistance to blood flow, hence giving lower Pressure and higher velocity. today, I came across this practice question: when blood flows through an artery, it exerts pressure on the surrounding arterial wall. compared to a section of healthy artery of equal size, a narrowed section of diseased artery experiences a pressure on the surrounding arterial wall that is:
D. smaller, because the flow velocity increases = right answer
I chose A = greater, because the flow velocity decreases. I chose this based on what I learnt last week. I thought the question was explaining the situation of vasoconstriction based on the key word "narrowed" in the question. I understand the book's explanation that based on the continuity equation, since A decreased v increases, and since v increased, Pressure is smaller. but now I'm confused on why vasoconstriction decreases blood flow and velocity, and increases pressure and why its the opposite case here?? What's the difference between the two situations?
