Circulation of blood through skeletal muscles


 * skeletal muscle blood flow is dependent on its activity
 * flow rate at rest: about 900 – 1 200 ml/min; during maximum work up to 20 – 25 l/min'
 * skeletal muscle vessels are innervated by sympathetic fibers – vasoconstrictive and vasodilator
 * vasodilator mechanism – controlled from the motor cortex in the gyrus praecentralis – is used in preparation for muscle activity and in its immediate beginning
 * vasoconstrictor mechanism – involved in maintaining blood pressure
 * during muscle performance, vasodilation is caused mainly by local regulatory mechanisms – the influence of increased concentration of catabolites → is dominated by metabolic self-regulation
 * skeletal muscle blood flow is strongly influenced by mechanical compression of blood vessels by the working muscle, → therefore a person tolerates dynamic work (alternating contraction with relaxation) better than prolonged static work

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