Chapter 16
Mechanism and Consequence
of Vasomotion
Jens Christian Brings Jacobsen and Christian Aalkjær
Abstract Oscillations in the tone or diameter of arteries is called vasomotion and
leads to the phenomenon of flowmotion, where the flow of blood into a tissue is
oscillating. Vasomotion occurs consequent to oscillations of the contractile state of
the smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall and is present in most small arteries in
the body. Vasomotion can occur via mechanisms intrinsic to the vascular wall and
can consequently be studied in arteries isolated from the body and mounted in an
organ chamber. The prevalence of vasomotion is highest in situations where the flow
to an organ is compromised. It seems likely that vasomotion is beneficial and ensures
an improved dialysis of the tissue, i.e. more efficient delivery of oxygen and removal
of waste product, although there is still a need for more experimental evidence to
confirm this.
This small review will discuss the oscillation in the tone of small arteries, i.e. vasomotion, and the consequent oscillation of blood flow, which is called flowmotion.
However, before we get into a discussion of these oscillations we will briefly outline
the main concepts of arterial structure and function.
16.1 Background Information on Small Arteries and Their
Function
Arteries are the blood vessels, which lead from the heart to the organs and tissues
and where the oxygenated blood is transported. These vessels deliver the oxygen and
nutrients needed to sustain a normal metabolism and hence function of the organs.
J. C. B. Jacobsen (B) · C. Aalkjær
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
e-mail: jcbrings@sund.ku.dk
C. Aalkjær
Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Stefanovska and P. V. E. McClintock (eds.), Physics of Biological
Oscillators, Understanding Complex Systems,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59805-1_16
261
Mechanism and Consequence
of Vasomotion
Jens Christian Brings Jacobsen and Christian Aalkjær
Abstract Oscillations in the tone or diameter of arteries is called vasomotion and
leads to the phenomenon of flowmotion, where the flow of blood into a tissue is
oscillating. Vasomotion occurs consequent to oscillations of the contractile state of
the smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall and is present in most small arteries in
the body. Vasomotion can occur via mechanisms intrinsic to the vascular wall and
can consequently be studied in arteries isolated from the body and mounted in an
organ chamber. The prevalence of vasomotion is highest in situations where the flow
to an organ is compromised. It seems likely that vasomotion is beneficial and ensures
an improved dialysis of the tissue, i.e. more efficient delivery of oxygen and removal
of waste product, although there is still a need for more experimental evidence to
confirm this.
This small review will discuss the oscillation in the tone of small arteries, i.e. vasomotion, and the consequent oscillation of blood flow, which is called flowmotion.
However, before we get into a discussion of these oscillations we will briefly outline
the main concepts of arterial structure and function.
16.1 Background Information on Small Arteries and Their
Function
Arteries are the blood vessels, which lead from the heart to the organs and tissues
and where the oxygenated blood is transported. These vessels deliver the oxygen and
nutrients needed to sustain a normal metabolism and hence function of the organs.
J. C. B. Jacobsen (B) · C. Aalkjær
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
e-mail: jcbrings@sund.ku.dk
C. Aalkjær
Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Stefanovska and P. V. E. McClintock (eds.), Physics of Biological
Oscillators, Understanding Complex Systems,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59805-1_16
261