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Multiple Choice

Which force is directly proportional to blood flow?

The driving force behind blood flow is the pressure gradient across the vessels. Blood flow rises in direct proportion to the difference between the arterial and venous pressures (ΔP) when resistance remains constant, as captured by the equation Q ∝ ΔP / R. In other words, increasing the pressure gradient pushes more blood through, while changes in viscosity or vessel characteristics alter flow mainly by changing resistance. Capillary hydrostatic pressure affects exchange locally, but the overall flow through a vascular bed follows the pressure gradient: higher pressure difference means higher flow.

The driving force behind blood flow is the pressure gradient across the vessels. Blood flow rises in direct proportion to the difference between the arterial and venous pressures (ΔP) when resistance remains constant, as captured by the equation Q ∝ ΔP / R. In other words, increasing the pressure gradient pushes more blood through, while changes in viscosity or vessel characteristics alter flow mainly by changing resistance. Capillary hydrostatic pressure affects exchange locally, but the overall flow through a vascular bed follows the pressure gradient: higher pressure difference means higher flow.