Transverse (TR) and terminal (TE) arteriolar diameters and TR pressure were measured in the rabbit tenuissimus muscle during steady state reductions in perfusion pressure. An inflatable occluder was positioned on the abdominal aorta proximal to the bifurcation to alter perfusion pressure. In the control conditions, TEs exhibited highly regular cyclic activity (20 +/- 4 cpm). In contrast, TRs seldom exhibited regular vasomotor activity. Pressure reductions from 76 +/- 1 to 40-50 mm Hg caused no significant change in the observed hemodynamic variables. Reductions below this level caused proportional dilations of TRs and a change in vasomotion pattern of TEs; i.e. the fundamental frequency was unaltered, but periods without vasomotion increased in duration. At an arterial pressure of 30-40 mm Hg, vasomotion in the TEs completely disappeared. Pressure in the distal TR was autoregulated at 40 +/- 4 mm Hg until a threshold (40-50 mm Hg) was reached; thereafter TR pressure decreased in proportion to the arterial pressure decrements. These results suggest that the TRs are the last generation of arterioles involved in the autoregulation of microvascular pressure. Furthermore, the basic frequency and maximal amplitude of vasomotion in TEs are not affected by pressure reductions.