Hyperemia is defined as

Hyperemia is defined as

• A. Decrease in blood flow to a body part.
• B. Increase in blood flow to a body part.
• C. No change in blood flow.
• D. Constriction of blood vessels in the area.

Answer: (B)

Hyperemia means an increase in blood flow to a body part, usually due to dilation of arterioles. This boosts delivery of oxygen and nutrients to meet metabolic needs or support inflammation, and the area often looks red and feels warmer as a result. The other ideas don’t fit because a decrease in blood flow corresponds to ischemia, no change would be normal perfusion, and constriction of blood vessels would reduce inflow rather than increase it. Hyperemia highlights active increased inflow, whether from exercise (functional hyperemia) or inflammatory processes.

Hyperemia means an increase in blood flow to a body part, usually due to dilation of arterioles. This boosts delivery of oxygen and nutrients to meet metabolic needs or support inflammation, and the area often looks red and feels warmer as a result. The other ideas don’t fit because a decrease in blood flow corresponds to ischemia, no change would be normal perfusion, and constriction of blood vessels would reduce inflow rather than increase it. Hyperemia highlights active increased inflow, whether from exercise (functional hyperemia) or inflammatory processes.