Coronary reflex is the change of coronary diameter in response to chemical, neurological or mechanical stimulation of the

coronary arteries The coronary arteries are the arterial blood vessels of coronary circulation, which transport oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. The heart requires a continuous supply of oxygen to function and survive, much like any other tissue or organ of ...

. The coronary reflexes are stimulated differently from the rest of the

vascular system The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...

Causes of coronary constriction

Chemical

* N-nitro

L-arginine Arginine is the amino acid with the formula (H2N)(HN)CN(H)(CH2)3CH(NH2)CO2H. The molecule features a guanidino group appended to a standard amino acid framework. At physiological pH, the carboxylic acid is deprotonated (−CO2−) and both the am ...

* indomethacin * glibenclamide * tetraethylammonium chloride * caffeine

Other

* Cold

Causes of coronary dilation

Cocaine abuse Cocaine dependence is a neurological disorder that is characterized by withdrawal symptoms upon cessation from cocaine use. It also often coincides with cocaine addiction which is a biopsychosocial disorder characterized by persistent use of coc ...

frequently can cause a coronary spasm, resulting in a spontaneous

myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may ...

Chemical

* Versed (Midazolam): a coronary dilator. In midazolam's presence, dilation was unaffected by N-nitro L-arginine, indomethacin and glibenclamide. * Tetraethylammonium chloride, an inhibitor of the BKCa K+ channel (a high conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel), dose dependently attenuated the vasodilating effect of midazolam * Estrogen has been shown to abolish abnormal cold-induced coronary constriction.

References

{{Reflex Cardiology