Biology GCSE
Vasodilation
What Vasodilation means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Vasodilation
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Reference: AQA
The smooth muscle in the walls of arterioles supplying the skin capillaries relaxes, so the arterioles widen and more blood flows through the skin capillaries.
Arterioles supplying superficial capillary loops dilate, increasing blood flow near the surface to dissipate heat via radiation.
A response triggered when too hot that widens vessels to lose heat.
Topics that use Vasodilation
- Control of body temperature (biology only) (AQA GCSE)
- Maintaining internal environments (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- vasoconstriction
- antagonistic hormones
- antidiuretic hormone
- blood glucose regulation
- Bowman's capsule and ultrafiltration
- collecting duct permeability
- Coordination between detection and response
- dehydration
Using Vasodilation in the exam
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