Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Arteries and Arterioles01:16

Arteries and Arterioles

Arteries, the vasculature responsible for transporting blood from the heart, possess robust walls capable of enduring the elevated pressures exerted by the heartbeat. Arteries near the heart are especially thick-walled and enriched with elastic fibers across their three tunics, classifying them as elastic or conducting arteries. These arteries, usually with a diameter exceeding 10 mm, are characterized by their ability to dilate in response to the blood pumped from the heart's ventricles and...
Autoregulation of Blood Flow01:17

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.
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators01:23

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...
Arteries of the Upper Limbs01:12

Arteries of the Upper Limbs

The subclavian artery transitions into the axillary artery as it exits the chest and enters the axillary region. This artery is critical for supplying blood to the shoulder area, including the head of the humerus, through the humeral circumflex arteries. As the vessel continues into the upper arm or brachium, it becomes the brachial artery. This artery plays a key role in vascularizing the brachial region and bifurcates at the elbow into several branches. These branches include the deep...
Veins of Upper Limbs01:17

Veins of Upper Limbs

The human circulatory system, a marvel of biological engineering, is a complex network of vessels that transport blood throughout the body. Among these, the veins responsible for carrying blood from the upper limbs are divided into two categories: deep and superficial.
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
Arteries of Lower Limbs01:20

Arteries of Lower Limbs

The external iliac artery transitions out of the body cavity, entering the femoral region of the lower leg, and is renamed the femoral artery at the point where it traverses the body wall. This artery is responsible for the distribution of blood to the thigh's deep muscles and the skin's ventral and lateral regions, achieved through several minor branches and the lateral deep femoral artery, which also spawns a lateral circumflex artery. The knee area receives blood from the genicular artery,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Effects of eccentric cycling training on aerobic and functional capacity in patients with heart failure: A randomised controlled trial.

Journal of science and medicine in sport·2026
Same author

Exercise & Sports Science Australia Position Statement on exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure: 2025 update.

Journal of science and medicine in sport·2026
Same author

Exploration of the clinical exercise physiologist standards in the UK: are they fit for purpose and how could they be developed?

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine·2026
Same author

Sex differences in dynamic cerebral autoregulation responses to resistance and endurance training in humans.

Experimental physiology·2026
Same author

Quantifying skin microvascular function responses to distinct forms of heat stress in humans using optical coherence tomography.

Experimental physiology·2026
Same author

Quantifying microvascular responses to local heating using optical coherence tomography: Comparison between skin sites and sex differences.

Experimental physiology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Doppler Ultrasound-Based Leg Blood Flow Assessment During Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Exercise in an Uncontrolled Setting
09:18

Doppler Ultrasound-Based Leg Blood Flow Assessment During Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Exercise in an Uncontrolled Setting

Published on: December 15, 2023

Relationship between upper and lower limb conduit artery vasodilator function in humans.

Dick H J Thijssen1, Nicola Rowley, Jaume Padilla

  • 1Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Tom Reilly Bldg., Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom St., Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. d.thijssen@fysiol.umcn.nl

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|April 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) does not predict lower limb endothelial function in healthy humans. However, FMD measurements in one arm are consistent with the other, suggesting localized rather than systemic endothelial health assessment.

More Related Videos

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy
07:24

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Published on: September 29, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Doppler Ultrasound-Based Leg Blood Flow Assessment During Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Exercise in an Uncontrolled Setting
09:18

Doppler Ultrasound-Based Leg Blood Flow Assessment During Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Exercise in an Uncontrolled Setting

Published on: December 15, 2023

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy
07:24

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Published on: September 29, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Endothelial Function Assessment
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a key indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Previous studies suggest FMD may reflect systemic endothelial health.
  • The extent to which brachial artery FMD represents systemic endothelial function in humans remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between upper and lower limb endothelial function in healthy humans.
  • To determine if brachial artery FMD serves as a systemic index of endothelial health.
  • To assess the reproducibility of FMD measurements within the brachial arteries.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of data from young, healthy individuals.
  • Measured endothelium-dependent FMD and endothelium-independent glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-mediated dilation in brachial, superficial femoral, and popliteal arteries.
  • Examined correlations between FMD measurements in different vascular beds and between bilateral brachial arteries.

Main Results:

  • No correlation was found between brachial artery FMD and superficial femoral or popliteal artery FMD.
  • A significant correlation was observed between FMD measurements in the left and right brachial arteries.
  • Modest correlation between brachial and superficial femoral artery GTN responses, but not with popliteal artery GTN.

Conclusions:

  • Brachial artery FMD is not a reliable predictor of lower limb endothelial function in healthy humans.
  • FMD measurements in one brachial artery are predictive of FMD in the contralateral brachial artery.
  • The hypothesis that brachial artery FMD represents a systemic index of endothelial function in healthy humans is not supported by these findings.