Bodybuilding biography

Presence of prominent superficial veins on the skin

Vascularity, in bodybuilding, is the condition of having many highly visible, prominent, and often extensively-ramified superficial veins.^[1] The skin appears "thin"—sometimes virtually transparent—due to an extreme reduction of subcutaneous fat, allowing for maximum muscle definition.^{[citation needed]}

Vascularity is enhanced by extremely low body fat (usually below 10%) and low retained water, as well as the muscle engorgement ("pump") and venous distension accentuated by the vigorous flexing and potentially hazardous Valsalva effect which characterize competitive posing.

Genetics and androgenic hormones^[2] will affect vascularity, as will ambient temperature. Additionally, although some bodybuilders develop arterial hypertension from performance-enhancing substances and practices, "high" venous pressure—being an order of magnitude lower than that of arteries^[3]— neith