Figure 3.

Peripheral vascular changes due to ischemic and inflammatory processes. Whether a decreased or increased blood flow is present, changes in the local temperature arise due to alterations in the normal blood flow. For example, during thromboembolisms, initially, the thrombus decreases blood flow by obstructing part of the blood vessel. However, the vessel can be completely blocked when an embolus travels through the bloodstream. Locally, this will stop or significantly reduce blood flow, decreasing the local surface temperature. On the contrary, during an inflammatory process such as osteoarthritis, vasodilation of venules and arterioles increases blood flow to promote neutrophil emigration. The release of inflammatory mediators also causes vasodilation, increasing local heat radiation.