Asked by harlem

There are many factors that affect the rate of blood flow in the human body. Which statement correctly describes one of these factors and its effect on blood flow?

Higher blood viscosity decreases the resistance in the blood vessels and leads to faster blood flow.

Atherosclerosis causes plaque to build up on blood vessel walls, increasing resistance and decreasing blood flow.

Increased exercise may decrease the blood pressure leading to slower blood flow.

The changing of the shape of red blood cells to a crescent shape decreases resistance and leads to faster blood flow.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Atherosclerosis causes plaque to build up on blood vessel walls, increasing resistance and decreasing blood flow.

Reason: Plaque narrows the vessel radius, and because resistance varies inversely with the fourth power of radius (Poiseuille's law), even small narrowing greatly increases resistance and reduces flow. The other options are incorrect: higher viscosity increases resistance (slowing flow), exercise typically raises cardiac output and blood pressure (increasing flow), and sickled red cells increase obstruction/viscosity and reduce flow.