Mean pressure in the lower limb

[jsmith613]

I have read that reduing mean pressure in distal arteries (e.g: lower limb) maintains blood flow there. How can this be true if flow=pressure/resistance, and resistance is highest in the arterioles?

[Function]

You may understand that in order to reduce mean pressure (MABP), you may have to dilate your vessels. By extension, you may appreciate that vessels with a larger diameter possess less resistance. Ta-da.

Another phenomenon you might be interested in, is the windkessel effect (look it up on Wiki), it's a phenomenon describing why blood pressure doesn't fall to 0 mm Hg after systole, but drops to and remains at about 80 mm Hg until the next systole