Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 7

What factors determine local blood flow during exercise?

Step 1 of 3

During exercise, muscles are the main tissues in the body that work and need more energy to perform the work. Along with several other tissues, muscles have their own ability to control blood flow depending on their metabolic needs. The following factors regulate the local blood flow to muscles during exercise:

• Vasodilation of the skeletal muscles

• Vasoconstriction to visceral organs and inactive tissues to redirect blood to the muscles