arterialfunction

Arterialfunction refers to the performance of arteries in distributing blood from the heart and regulating hemodynamic conditions. It encompasses the structural properties of arterial walls and the functional responses of the endothelium and smooth muscle that together determine how arteries carry blood, respond to pressure, and influence perfusion.

Key components include arterial compliance (elasticity), which allows arteries to expand with each heartbeat, and the layered arterial wall that consists of intima, media, and adventitia. Endothelial cells line the inner surface and release vasoactive substances such as nitric oxide (a vasodilator) and endothelin (a vasoconstrictor). Smooth muscle in the arterial media modulates caliber in response to neural, hormonal, and local metabolic signals.

Arterialfunction serves several roles: acting as conduits to transport blood from the heart to tissues, damping the pulsatile nature of cardiac output through the Windkessel effect, and helping maintain mean arterial pressure for consistent tissue perfusion. Regional arteries regulate flow to specific organs, while the overall arterial tree influences afterload and peripheral resistance.

Clinical assessment of arterialfunction includes measures of arterial stiffness, such as pulse wave velocity, and indices of wave reflection like the augmentation index. Endothelial function can be evaluated with flow-mediated dilation, along with imaging and central blood pressure assessments to gauge diameter and compliance.

Clinical relevance is tied to aging and cardiovascular risk. Impaired arterialfunction, especially increased arterial stiffness, is associated with hypertension, atherosclerosis, and higher cardiac workload, and it serves as a predictor of cardiovascular events. Lifestyle factors and pharmacologic therapies can help preserve or improve arterialfunction, including regular physical activity, healthy diet, smoking cessation, and blood pressure management. Large elastic arteries (eg, the aorta) and muscular arteries contribute to arterialfunction, with microvascular function representing a related but distinct aspect of vascular health.