Abstract
The mechanism(s) by which hypoxia elicits vasoconstriction and the segment(s) of the [human, animal] pulmonary vascular tree which constrict(s) [resulting in pulmonary hypertension] during hypoxa are investigated. After having proposed how and where acute hypoxia works, brief consideration is given to the question of how the observations on acute hypoxia.sbd.generally an artifice of the laboratory.sbd.are related to the state of chronic hypoxia which characterizes life at high altitude. The roles of the autonomic nervous system, intrinsic pulmonary mechanisms and chemical mediators are discussed.