Final answer:
Nitroglycerin is the medication that dilates the coronary arteries, increasing oxygen supply to the heart and relieving chest pain in cardiac patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nitroglycerin dilates the coronary arteries, thus increasing oxygen supply to the heart and relieving a cardiac patient's chest pain. Nitroglycerin is believed to involve the release of nitric oxide, a known vasodilator, and endothelium-derived releasing factor, which also relaxes the smooth muscle in the tunica media of coronary vessels.