Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
In the context of the nervous system and blood flow, resistance refers to the opposition to blood flow in the blood vessels. It is influenced by factors such as vessel diameter, blood viscosity, and overall vessel length.
Related terms
Blood Viscosity: The thickness or stickiness of blood, which affects how easily it flows through vessels.
Vessel Diameter: The width of a blood vessel; smaller diameters create higher resistance to blood flow.