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Systemic Vascular Resistance

Meaning

Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is the total resistance offered by all systemic blood vessels to the flow of blood, representing the cumulative impedance that the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood into the circulation. This physiological parameter is a key determinant of arterial blood pressure, calculated as the difference between mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure divided by cardiac output. Hormones and neurotransmitters precisely regulate SVR by controlling the degree of vasoconstriction and vasodilation in the arterioles. Chronic elevations in SVR contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of hypertension and increase the workload on the heart.