Final answer:
Vascular smooth muscle responds to changes in pressure through the myogenic response, an intrinsic control mechanism that regulates blood flow and maintains homeostasis in the circulatory system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of control by which vascular smooth muscle directly responds to changes in pressure is called myogenic. This myogenic response is an intrinsic mechanism where the vascular smooth muscle reacts to the stretching caused by increased blood flow, resulting in vasoconstriction to prevent damage to tissues from excessive perfusion. Conversely, when the stretch is minimal due to reduced blood flow, these muscles relax, leading to vasodilation, which increases blood flow into the tissues.
The myogenic response helps maintain homeostasis within the circulatory system by protecting against dramatic fluctuations in blood pressure and blood flow. It stabilizes blood flow particularly in the capillary network that follows the arteriole. It is a localized process, unlike the extrinsic controls governed by the nervous system and hormones that affect systemic vascular resistance and overall blood pressure.