Nervi vascularis

Nervi vascularis refers to the nervous system's autonomic nerves that innervate the walls of blood vessels. These nerves play a crucial role in the regulation of vascular tone, which is essential for maintaining blood pressure and ensuring adequate blood flow to the body's tissues.

Anatomy

The nervi vascularis are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions in the body. They are primarily composed of sympathetic nerves, although some parasympathetic nerves also contribute to their formation. These nerves originate from the spinal cord and extend to the blood vessels throughout the body.

Function

The primary function of the nervi vascularis is to regulate the diameter of blood vessels. They do this by releasing neurotransmitters that cause the smooth muscle cells in the walls of the blood vessels to contract or relax. This alters the diameter of the blood vessels, which in turn affects blood pressure and blood flow.

Clinical significance

Abnormalities in the function of the nervi vascularis can lead to various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Therefore, understanding the function of these nerves and how they can be targeted therapeutically is an important area of medical research.

See also

• Autonomic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system
• Parasympathetic nervous system
• Blood vessels
• Vascular tone
• Blood pressure
• Blood flow
• Neurotransmitters
• Smooth muscle
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Hypertension
• Atherosclerosis
• Heart failure
• Medical research