Distribution and control of coronary microvascular resistance

Abstract

Coronary blood flow depends upon the vascular resistance distributed nonuniformly within the coronary microcirculation. Coronary microvascular resistance is governed by metabolic, myogenic, endothelial and neurohumoral influences. A number of these control mechanisms interact locally within a microvascular segment. In addition, these control mechanisms occupy differing longitudinal response gradients, a feature which maximizes their potential for the synergistic control of flow.