Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Circulatory System

Anatomy of the Circulatory System

The human circulatory system consists of blood, blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, around the body, and back to the heart, and the heart itself, which acts as a central pump. The systemic circuit supplies blood to the whole body, the coronary circuit supplies blood to the heart, and the pulmonary circuit supplies blood flow between the heart and lungs.

Vascular Spasm

Vascular Spasm

The vascular phase, also known as vasospasm, is the initial stage of hemostasis, crucial for preventing excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. After a vessel is cut, nerves in the damaged area trigger pain and other sensory impulses. Simultaneously, the smooth muscles in the vessel wall contract, resulting in a vascular spasm. This contraction reduces the vessel's diameter at the injury site, slowing or stopping blood loss through the vessel wall. Vascular spasms typically last for...

Structure of Blood Vessels

Structure of Blood Vessels

Blood is circulated throughout the human body through a network of blood vessels called the circulatory system. This system includes arteries that transport blood from the heart to various body parts. These arterial pathways divide into smaller vessels until they reach the arterioles, which further split into capillaries. It is within these minuscule capillaries that the exchange of nutrients and waste products takes place. After this exchange, the blood is collected by venules, which fuse to...

Veins as Blood Reservoirs

Veins as Blood Reservoirs

Veins, while chiefly responsible for circulating blood back to the heart, also function as storage vessels for blood. They house approximately 64 percent of the body's total blood volume, a feat made possible by their high capacitance—the inherent ability to expand and accommodate large volumes of blood, even under low pressure. The large diameter and thin walls of veins augment their distensibility, significantly more so than arteries, due to their classification as capacitance vessels. When...

Autoregulation of Blood Flow

Autoregulation of Blood Flow

Autoregulation mechanisms are characterized by their inherent capacity for self-regulation without necessitating specific nervous stimulation or endocrine control. These mechanisms facilitate the adjustment of blood flow and, therefore, perfusion specific to each tissue region. This self-regulation encompasses chemical signals and myogenic controls.
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.

Anatomy of Blood Vessels

Anatomy of Blood Vessels

The vascular system, an integral part of the circulatory system, comprises various blood vessels that play crucial roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis. These blood vessels form a complex and efficient circulatory network. The three primary categories of blood vessels are the arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Arteries
Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from the heart, except the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Large arteries, such as the aorta, have...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

[Transcript distribution, sequence characteristics and clinical outcomes of rare transcript types of BCR::ABL1 fusion gene-positive leukemia patients].

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2026

Same author

Tumor immune-vascular crosstalk: synergy and translation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-angiogenic agents in melanoma.

Frontiers in immunology·2026

Same author

Atlas-Based Mapping of Traditional Chinese Medicine Effects on Tumor Microcirculation Regulation.

Immunity, inflammation and disease·2026

Same author

[Clinical characteristics and genotype analysis of two rare subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia].

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2025

Same author

[Improved detection methods and sequence characteristics of PML::RARA variant transcripts in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia].

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2025

Same author

[Clinical features of acute B lymphoblastic leukemia with TAF15::ZNF384 fusion gene].

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Published on: January 29, 2013

Plasma alpha-tocopherol and coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilator function.

S Kinlay¹, J C Fang, H Hikita

¹Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. skinlay@massmed.org

|July 21, 1999

Summary

Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels are linked to better coronary endothelial function in atherosclerosis patients. Higher vitamin E may preserve nitric oxide-mediated vasomotion, suggesting a therapeutic role.

More Related Videos

Murine Spinotrapezius Model to Assess the Impact of Arteriolar Ligation on Microvascular Function and Remodeling

Murine Spinotrapezius Model to Assess the Impact of Arteriolar Ligation on Microvascular Function and Remodeling

Published on: March 3, 2013

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Published on: January 29, 2013

Murine Spinotrapezius Model to Assess the Impact of Arteriolar Ligation on Microvascular Function and Remodeling

Murine Spinotrapezius Model to Assess the Impact of Arteriolar Ligation on Microvascular Function and Remodeling

Published on: March 3, 2013

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2019

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Research
Nutritional Science
Endothelial Function

Background:

Coronary endothelial vasomotor response to acetylcholine is often abnormal in atherosclerosis.
This response is variable among patients.
The association between alpha-tocopherol and nitric oxide-mediated vasomotion was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To test the hypothesis that plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration preserves nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent vasomotion.
To explore the relationship between vitamin E levels and coronary endothelial function.

Main Methods:

Studied 21 patients (15 men, 6 women) undergoing coronary angiography without vitamin supplements.
Assessed coronary endothelium-dependent and -independent vasomotion via intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine and nitroglycerin.
Correlated vasomotor responses with plasma alpha-tocopherol and its relative concentration to total lipids.

Main Results:

Plasma alpha-tocopherol significantly correlated with the acetylcholine-induced vasomotion (r=0.49, P<0.05).
No significant correlation was found between alpha-tocopherol and nitroglycerin response (r=0.13, P>0.05).
The association between alpha-tocopherol and acetylcholine response remained significant after adjusting for oxidant stress factors (P<0.01).

Conclusions:

Alpha-tocopherol may preserve endothelial vasomotor function in coronary atherosclerosis.
The beneficial effect might be primarily due to alpha-tocopherol's action within the vascular wall.
Further research on alpha-tocopherol supplementation for endothelial dysfunction is warranted.