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Vasodilation

Meaning

Vasodilation is the essential physiological process of widening the internal diameter of blood vessels, primarily the muscular arteries and arterioles, which is achieved through the active relaxation of the smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls. This critical mechanism increases the blood flow to specific tissues or organs, thereby reducing the systemic vascular resistance and concurrently decreasing arterial blood pressure. Vasodilation is a fundamental process in the precise regulation of body temperature, efficient nutrient and oxygen delivery, and overall cardiovascular homeostasis.