What could be a potential cause of hyperemia?

Hyperemia refers to an increased blood flow to a particular area of the body, often resulting in redness, warmth, and swelling. The correct answer indicates that increased metabolic activity can lead to hyperemia due to the body's need for more oxygen and nutrients in response to heightened cellular activity. When tissues are more metabolically active, such as during exercise or inflammation, they release vasodilators, which expand blood vessels and increase blood flow to supply the necessary resources.

In contrast, decreased blood flow, thrombosis, and compression of blood vessels would typically hinder circulation, thereby reducing the blood supply to tissue, which is not consistent with the phenomenon of hyperemia.