Fig. 3
From: Regulation of blood flow and volume exchange across the microcirculation
Local vasodilatation related to tissue metabolic activity. Local metabolic effects targeting a close relation of regional blood flow to metabolic activity are particularly effective in the terminal arterioles, being elicited foremost by changes in pO2, pCO2, pH, osmolarity, potassium ion concentration, and released catabolites such as adenosine. The respective signaling mechanisms are colored in red. cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CT connecting tissue, EC endothelial cell, K ATP ATP-dependent potassium ion channel, K IR inward-rectifying potassium ion channel, giving rise to hyperpolarization (Hyperpol), Posm osmotic pressure, TRPV transitory receptor-mediated potential, vallinoid type, VL vascular lumen, VSMC vascular smooth muscle cell