A Decrease in the Autonomic Tone of the Smooth Muscle

Question

A decrease in the autonomic tone of the smooth muscle in a blood vessel would result in
A) no change in vessel diameter.
B) a decrease in vessel diameter.
C) oscillation in vessel diameter.
D) a decrease in blood flow through the vessel.
E) an increase in blood flow through the vessel.

Accepted Answer

A decrease in autonomic tone typically leads to vasodilation, or an increase in the diameter of the blood vessel. This results in a decrease in vascular resistance, allowing more blood to flow through the vessel, hence increasing blood flow.