Vascular shunt mechanism (redistribution of blood flow)

• Vascular shunt mechanism

  The redistribution of cardiac output during exercise/recovery
• At rest how much (percentage) of blood flow goes to the vital organs

  80%
• At rest what percentage of blood goes to the skeletal muscles

  20%
• What happens to the percentages during exercise

  They switch
• Vasodilation


  The widening of diameter of the arterioles and pre-capillary sphincters
• Vasoconstriction


  The narrowing of the diameter of the arterioles and pre-capillary sphincters
• What is the purpose of blood redistribution

  Blood is redistributed to the working muscles because they need it the most and away from the organs as they need it less
• What detects that blood needs to be redistributed

  Chemoreceptors detect an increase/decrease in CO2 and decrease in O2, baroreceptors detect an increase/decrease in blood pressure
• Where does the feedback given by the receptors go

  Sent to the vasomotor control centre to stimulate the vascular shunt mechanism
• How does the vascular shunt mechanism work

  The vasoconstriction/vasodilation of the arterioles and pre capillary sphincters supplying the organs and skeletal muscles
• Memory hook

  REVVVastabution