Vascular resistance is the resistance that a blood vessel offers to the blood. The word “corona” means crown or wreath, and in medical terminology describes the coronary arteries. Because the circulatory system extends throughout the body and thus vascular resistance is also found in all blood vessels, the term coronary vascular resistance is used to localize the specific vascular resistance of the coronary arteries.
What is coronary vascular resistance?
Vascular resistance is the resistance that a blood vessel offers to blood. Vascular resistance, or resistance to flow, is antagonistic to blood pressure and is present in all blood vessels. Blood vessels are all arteries and veins. Coronary vascular resistance deals specifically with the flow resistances of the arteries and veins of the heart. As an antagonist of blood pressure, flow resistance takes an important role in maintaining metabolism.
Function and Purpose
Flow resistance slows blood flow. Absorption of nutrients, oxygen, etc. from the blood into cells is much more successful when blood flow is slow. The body takes advantage of this mechanism to ensure optimal nutrient absorption. Thus, flow resistance serves not only to maintain healthy blood circulation but also to absorb the transported nutrients.
Diseases and ailments
Atherosclerosis is the deposition of cholesterol, connective tissues, fats, thrombi, and calcium phosphate in the vessel walls of arteries and veins. Atherosclerosis is also called arteriosclerosis in German. However, an accumulation of calcium, i.e. calcium carbonate is not present in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can manifest itself in all blood vessels of the body. In atherosclerosis, progressive degeneration of the arterial walls takes place over long periods of time. Other circumstances such as connective tissue overgrowth and accumulation of collagen and proteoglycans thicken and harden the vessel walls. Due to the thickening and lack of elasticity of the vessel walls, there is an inhibition of blood circulation. Possible formation of blood clots also poses a significant threat to the organism. The pathological deposit in the vessel walls is called stenosis. Due to the restricted function of the affected arteries or veins, a constant blood flow is prevented and numerous serious diseases can occur. Furthermore, there is a possibility that parts of the deposit may break off and form blood clots. These in turn, like a clot, can disable blood vessels or valve mechanisms. Atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries is called coronary sclerosis and the actual deposit in the walls of the coronary arteries is called coronary stenosis. Coronary stenosis inhibits blood flow from the arteries to the heart muscles, preventing effective oxygen delivery. The imbalance between oxygen demand and oxygen supply is called coronary insufficiency. An imbalance in the supply and demand of oxygen is also called ischemia. While ischemia is a general term for poor blood flow to an organ, coronary insufficiency specifically refers to ischemia of the heart muscles. Ischemia of the heart muscles is consequently referred to as ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery disease is caused by coronary stenosis. The typical leading symptom of CHD is angina pectoris. Angina pectoris is defined by a strong feeling of pressure and dull constricting pain behind the sternum and in the heart region. It is triggered by an excessive imbalance between oxygen supply and oxygen demand in the heart muscle. The resulting pathological oxygen deficiency is often triggered by environmental factors such as excessive stress in combination with coronary artery disease. However, angina pectoris can also be triggered by other emotional states or incidental environmental conditions such as cold or heat. Overeating or physically inappropriate exertion can also lead to increased oxygen demand, triggering angina pectoris. Myocardial infarction or myocardial infarction is triggered by the separation of a blood clot from coronary stenosis.The blood clot clogs a coronary artery after it has separated, stopping the supply of oxygen from the affected artery to the affected heart muscle. The severity of the heart attack depends on the size of the detached blood clot and the period of artery blockage.
