arterieelastisitet

Arterieelastisitet refers to the ability of arteries to stretch and recoil. This property is crucial for maintaining blood flow and regulating blood pressure. Arteries are composed of elastic tissues, primarily elastin, which allows them to expand when the heart pumps blood into them and then recoil to push the blood forward. This elasticity acts as a buffer, smoothing out the pulsatile flow from the heart into a more continuous stream within the arterial system.

The elasticity of arteries is particularly important during the cardiac cycle. When the left ventricle contracts (systole), it ejects a large volume of blood into the aorta. The elastic walls of the aorta stretch to accommodate this surge, preventing a drastic increase in blood pressure. As the ventricle relaxes (diastole), the stretched arterial walls recoil, maintaining pressure and continuing to propel blood towards the periphery.

With age and in the presence of certain conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, arterial elasticity can decrease. This stiffening of the arteries, known as arterial stiffness, leads to a diminished ability to buffer pressure fluctuations. Consequently, systolic blood pressure tends to rise, while diastolic blood pressure may fall, increasing the pulse pressure. Reduced arterial elasticity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, as it places a greater workload on the heart and impairs blood supply to vital organs. Measuring arterial stiffness is an emerging area in cardiovascular risk assessment.