Concept explainers
To analyze:
The mechanism that transports Nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells to the smooth muscle cells.
Introduction:
Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule that plays a variety of roles in the body, one of which is to relax blood vessels to increase the flow of blood. This supplies more blood and thereby oxygen to the muscles in case of rigorous physical activity.
Explanation of Solution
Small non-polar molecules such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitric oxide and directly pass from the cellular membrane by passive diffusion. The nitric oxide diffuses to intercellular spaces when its concentration increases in the endothelial cells and then to the smooth muscle cells depending upon the concentration gradient.
Nitric oxide is transported to the smooth muscle cells by passive diffusion as it is a small and relatively non-polar molecule.
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