Is distensibility the same as compliance?

Distensibility and compliance are important vessel wall properties. Distensibility is related to elastic properties of the arterial wall, and compliance reflects the buffering function of the artery. Distensibility is a determinant of stress on the vessel wall.

What is vascular compliance?

The ability of a blood vessel wall to expand and contract passively with changes in pressure is an important function of large arteries and veins.

What is arterial compliance?

Arterial compliance is the ability of the arterial wall to distend and increase volume with increasing transmural pressure. Arterial compliance as a property is the inverse of arterial stiffness.

What is distensibility of artery?

Arterial distensibility is a measure of the arterial ability to expand and contract with cardiac pulsation and relaxation.

Which blood vessel has the greatest compliance?

Veins
Veins have a much higher compliance than arteries (largely due to their thinner walls.)

How does compliance affect blood pressure?

Decreased arterial compliance is responsible for both an increase in the incident pressure wave and the higher effect of reflected pressure waves. This increases systolic pressure and ventricular afterload, and generates left ventricular hypertrophy.

Which parts of circulation has highest compliance?

In summary, compliance is a measure of the storage capacity of the arteries. Although it is recognized that the proximal aorta and its major branches are the most compliant portion of the arterial circulation, the distal vessels contribute to circulatory regulation.

What is the effect of decrease in arterial compliance?

Why is arterial compliance important?

Arterial compliance is an index of the elasticity of large arteries such as the thoracic aorta. Arterial compliance is an important cardiovascular risk factor. Compliance diminishes with age and menopause.

What does distensibility mean?

: capable of being distended.

Does atherosclerosis increase blood pressure?

If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to your kidneys, you develop high blood pressure or kidney failure.

Which blood flow circuit has the greatest resistance?

The arterioles provide the greatest resistance to blood flow. This is illustrated in the figure below by the large pressure drop that occurs while blood flows through the arterioles. The walls of the arterioles contain smooth muscle that can control the diameter, and hence the resistance, by contracting or relaxing.