Definition

Noun: A substance, typically a drug, that causes the widening or dilation of blood vessels. This action increases blood flow and decreases vascular resistance.

Usage

This is a technical medical and pharmacological term. It is used to classify or describe the primary action of a substance. * The doctor prescribed a vasodilative to treat the patient's hypertension. * Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilative used for angina pectoris.

Advanced Usage

The term is often used in scientific writing, research papers, and clinical discussions to describe a mechanism of action. * The study compared the efficacy of the new vasodilative against standard therapy. * The compound's vasodilative properties were confirmed in the laboratory model.

Variants and Related Words

• Vasodilation (noun): The process or result of blood vessels becoming wider.
  • The medication induces vasodilation.
• Vasodilator (noun): A more common synonym for 'vasodilative'.
  • This class of vasodilators works on the arterial system.
• Vasodilate (verb): To cause or undergo the widening of blood vessels.
  • These drugs cause the arteries to vasodilate.

Synonyms

• Vasodilator
• Blood vessel dilator

Related Terms and Concepts

• Antihypertensive: A drug used to treat high blood pressure (many antihypertensives are vasodilatives).
• Vasoconstrictive: The opposite agent; a substance that causes narrowing of blood vessels.

Noun

1. a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels