Smooth muscle found within, and composing the majority of the wall of blood vessels. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vascular_smooth_muscle ]
Synonyms: blood vessel smooth muscle tissue blood vessel non-striated muscle smooth muscle tissue of blood vessel smooth muscle of blood vessel vascular smooth muscle blood vessel involuntary muscle vascular smooth muscle tissue non-striated muscle of blood vessel involuntary muscle of blood vessel
Term information
- UMLS:C1519956 (ncithesaurus:Vascular_Smooth_Muscle_Tissue)
- NCIT:C33853
- TAO:0005321
- CALOHA:TS-1107
- MA:0000710
- BTO:0001431
- MESH:D009131
- Wikipedia:Vascular_smooth_muscle
- EMAPA:35177
- ZFA:0005321
pheno_slim
Vascular smooth muscle contracts or relaxes to both change the volume of blood vessels and the local blood pressure, a mechanism that is responsible for the redistribution of the blood within the body to areas where it is needed (i.e. areas with temporarily enhanced oxygen consumption). Thus the main function of vascular smooth muscle tonus is to regulate the caliber of the blood vessels in the body. Excessive vasoconstriction leads to hypertension, while excessive vasodilation as in shock leads to hypotension.