Oscillations in the tone or diameter of arteries is called vasomotion and leads to the phenomenon of flowmotion, where the flow of blood into a tissue is oscillating. Vasomotion occurs consequent to oscillations of the contractile state of the smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall and is present in most small arteries in the body. Vasomotion can occur via mechanisms intrinsic to the vascular wall and can consequently be studied in arteries isolated from the body and mounted in an organ chamber. The prevalence of vasomotion is highest in situations where the flow to an organ is compromised. It seems likely that vasomotion is beneficial and ensures an improved dialysis of the tissue, i.e. more efficient delivery of oxygen and removal of waste product, although there is still a need for more experimental evidence to confirm this.