In general,as an artery's diameter decreases,there is a(n)
A)decrease in the amount of smooth muscle and an increase in the number of elastic fibers.
B)increase in the amount of smooth muscle and a decrease in the number of elastic fibers.
C)increase in both smooth muscle and elastic fibers.
D)decrease in both smooth muscle and elastic fibers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the artery diameter decreases, the walls of the artery need to withstand higher pressures to maintain blood flow. To compensate for this, the amount of smooth muscle in the arterial walls increases, which allows for more effective constriction and dilation of the artery. At the same time, the number of elastic fibers decreases because they are less important in maintaining artery tone in smaller vessels.

In General,as an Artery's Diameter Decreases,there Is A(n)