Your cart is currently empty!
Autoregulation refers to the ability of blood vessels in an organ to maintain a consistent blood flow despite changes in perfusion pressure. This is vital for the proper functioning of organs that require a stable supply of blood for nutrient and oxygen delivery.
Various factors contribute to autoregulation in different organs, and these factors can include local metabolites, myogenic responses, and neural control mechanisms. The following table summarizes the key factors involved in autoregulation for each organ system.
Organ | Autoregulation Mechanism | Key Local Metabolites and Responses |
---|---|---|
Heart | Local metabolites control blood flow via vasodilation, maintaining constant perfusion pressure. | Adenosine, Nitric Oxide (NO), CO2, Low O2 |
Pulmonary Vasculature | Unique autoregulation mechanism where alveolar hypoxia causes vasoconstriction to divert blood to well-ventilated areas. | Hypoxia-induced vasoconstriction |
Brain | Blood flow is influenced by changes in CO2 and pH levels in the brain. | CO2 (or pH levels) as vasodilators |
Kidneys | Autoregulation involves myogenic response and tubuloglomerular feedback. | Myogenic response, Tubuloglomerular feedback |
Lungs | In the lungs, hypoxia causes vasoconstriction, a unique response compared to most other organs. | Hypoxia-induced vasoconstriction |
Skeletal Muscle | Local metabolites released during exercise induce vasodilation, increasing blood flow. | CO2, H+, Adenosine, Lactate, K+ (during exercise) |
Skin | Sympathetic tone in arteries plays a critical role in temperature regulation by controlling blood flow to the skin. | Sympathetic vasoconstriction (for temperature control) |