vasoconstriction

American  

[vas-oh-kuhn-strik-shuhn, vey-zoh-] / ˌvæs oʊ kənˈstrɪk ʃən, ˌveɪ zoʊ- /

noun

Physiology.

1. constriction of the blood vessels, as by the action of a nerve.

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vasoconstriction Scientific  

/ vā′zō-kən-strĭk′shən /

1. Constriction of a blood vessel, as by a nerve or drug.

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Etymology

Origin of vasoconstriction

First recorded in 1895–1900; vaso- + constriction

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for the rap star, 31, confirmed to The Times on Wednesday that the artist’s doctors “ultimately identified extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction and low metabolic levels as the cause of her symptoms.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Excedrin brand migraine medication contains caffeine, in addition to acetaminophen and aspirin, because it helps constrict blood vessels in a process called vasoconstriction, enhancing pain relief.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2024

Ice, however, causes the opposite phenomenon: vasoconstriction, which causes blood vessels to narrow.

From National Geographic • Feb. 21, 2024

One such mechanism is vasoconstriction, which is when the muscles in blood vessel walls narrow to prevent heat loss, says cardiologist Laxmi Mehta of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

From Scientific American • Nov. 1, 2023

The circulatory reaction was a peripheral vasoconstriction with diminished fullness of pulse and slight acceleration of cardiac rhythm; there was never any distinct slowing of heart under the influence of music.

From Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 4 Sexual Selection In Man by Ellis, Havelock