What does vasodilatory mean?
Vasodilatory is a formal medical and physiological adjective describing something that widens blood vessels by relaxing their smooth muscle. It is commonly applied to drugs, pathways, nerves, and physiological effects that increase blood flow or lower vascular resistance. For example, a clinician may describe an agent as having “vasodilatory activity,” while a research paper may discuss the vasodilatory response of an artery to stimulation. Although the word is closely related to vasodilator, which names an agent that produces the effect, vasodilatory describes the quality or action itself. The term appears especially in cardiovascular medicine, pharmacology, and physiology. It is more technical than “blood-vessel-widening” and is usually reserved for expert or clinical contexts. Recognising it makes it easier to understand discussions of blood pressure, circulation, and drugs that influence vascular tone without confusing a relaxing action with the opposite process, vasoconstriction.
adjectiveCausing or promoting vasodilation, the relaxation and widening of blood vessels.
- Causing or promoting the relaxation and widening of blood vessels.
"The drug has a potent vasodilatory effect on peripheral arteries."
"The medication produced a clear vasodilatory response in the patient's peripheral circulation."
"Nitric oxide is an important signaling molecule with vasodilatory activity in the vascular system."
Vasodilatory names the opposite of vasoconstrictory: one relaxes a vessel, while the other tightens it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vasodilatory come from?
Vasodilatory was formed in modern medical English from vasodilator with the adjective-forming suffix -y. Its elements combine Latin vas, meaning “vessel,” with Latin dilatare, meaning “to widen” or “expand,” the same root behind dilation and dilatation; the specialized prefix vaso- specifies blood vessels. The related noun vasodilator names an agent, while vasodilatation names the process of vessel dilation.
Related word forms
How vasodilatory is actually used
Formal, technical usage, especially in cardiovascular medicine, pharmacology, and physiology. It is uncommon in everyday speech, where broader wording such as “widening blood vessels” is more natural.
Easily confused with vasodilatory
A vasodilator is an agent that causes blood vessels to widen, whereas vasodilatory is an adjective describing that widening or the action responsible for it.