Vascular shunt mechanism

Definition.
1. the redistribution of cardiac output around the body from rest to exercise which increases percentage of blood flow to the skeletal muscles.
At rest
1. high percentage of cardiac output (Q) distributed to organs
2. arterioles to the organs vasodilate increasing blood flow while arterioles to the muscles vasoconstrict to limit blood flow
3. pre-capillary sphincters dilate, opening up the capillary beds to allow more blood flow to organ cells while constricting closing the capillary beds to the muscle cells
During exercise
1. High percentage of cardiac output (Q) is distributed to skeletal muscles.
2. Arterioles and pre-capillarty sphincters serving the capillary beds surround in muscle cells dilate
  1. This maximises blood flow, nutrient and gaseous exchange
3. Arterioles and pre-capillary sphincters vaso-constrict around the organs.

Resource summary

	Created by sidney frankham about 7 years ago