Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signaling molecule generated from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase. It is a key signaling molecule in the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. NO activates guanylate cyclase, increasing cyclic GMP levels to cause smooth muscle relaxation and inhibit platelet aggregation. The physiological role of NO was discovered in the vasculature, where it was shown that endothelium-derived relaxing factor causing vasodilation was NO. NO has diverse functions and is involved in processes like neurotransmission, host defense, and inflammation.