What term describes the decrease in the diameter of blood vessels caused by smooth muscle contraction?

What term describes the decrease in the diameter of blood vessels caused by smooth muscle contraction?

• A. Gait
• B. Goniometry
• C. Vasoconstriction
• D. Hypertrophy

Answer: (C)

When smooth muscle around blood vessels contracts, the diameter of the vessel narrows. This narrowing is called vasoconstriction. It’s a quick, reversible change driven by autonomic signals, typically increasing vascular resistance and helping regulate blood pressure or redirect blood flow to essential areas. The other terms don’t describe this process: gait is a walking pattern, goniometry measures joint angles, and hypertrophy is the growth in size of cells or tissue, not a change in vessel diameter due to smooth muscle tone.

When smooth muscle around blood vessels contracts, the diameter of the vessel narrows. This narrowing is called vasoconstriction. It’s a quick, reversible change driven by autonomic signals, typically increasing vascular resistance and helping regulate blood pressure or redirect blood flow to essential areas. The other terms don’t describe this process: gait is a walking pattern, goniometry measures joint angles, and hypertrophy is the growth in size of cells or tissue, not a change in vessel diameter due to smooth muscle tone.