The capacitance of blood vessels describes the distensibility of blood vessels located within the body; it is inversely related to elasticity. Therefore, the greater the amount of elastic tissue in a blood vessel, the greater the elasticity, and the lower the compliance. This ultimately describes how volume changes in response to a change in pressure within the blood vessel at hand.
Famous quotes containing the words blood and/or vessels:
“My business is stanching blood and feeding fainting men; my post the open field between the bullet and the hospital. I sometimes discuss the application of a compress or a wisp of hay under a broken limb, but not the bearing and merits of a political movement. I make gruel—not speeches; I write letters home for wounded soldiers, not political addresses.”
—Clara Barton (1821–1912)
“First, there is the power of the Wind, constantly exerted over the globe.... Here is an almost incalculable power at our disposal, yet how trifling the use we make of it! It only serves to turn a few mills, blow a few vessels across the ocean, and a few trivial ends besides. What a poor compliment do we pay to our indefatigable and energetic servant!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)