Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Monitoring the Wall Mechanics During Stent Deployment in a Vessel
Published on: May 8, 2012
New concepts regarding constriction within a stenosis Influence of intraluminal pressure changes
1Philadelphia Heart Institute, Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Morphologic and clinical studies clearly show that most human coronary lesions exhibit vasomotion. Variable ischemic thresholds, ischemia unrelated to workload, and variant angina further prove the presence of vasoconstriction in coronary artery disease. While vasoconstriction is important in the presentation of coronary artery disease, the unique type of contraction present in an arterial stenosis has been only recently examined. In normal large conduit arteries, the afterload opposing smooth muscle contraction is the intraluminal pressure, which remains relatively constant. In stenotic arteries, as the artery constricts, the pressure (or afterload) opposing smooth muscle shortening decreases, leading to exaggerated constriction and augmented arterial narrowing. Physiologically, this implies that a unique type of contraction ("heterotonic") occurs within an arterial stenosis. Clinically, this type of contraction might explain the exaggerated shortening observed within an arterial stenosis. It also suggests that stenotic pressure is an important variable in the pathophysiology and potential treatment of angina pectoris.
Related Concept Videos
Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs during...
Pulmonary Ventilation: Inhalation
Boyle's law becomes particularly pertinent when examining respiratory...
Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
