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. 2014 May 23;7:29–34. doi: 10.2147/IBPC.S59535

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© 2014 Sethi et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License

The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed.

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The aorta contains a high proportion of elastin fibers that allows systolic distension. During the diastolic phase, blood is advanced forward due to elastic recoil. Distal arteries have more collagen and less elastin, so are less compliant. Distally, there is a progressive reduction of pulsatility through the arterial tree. Aortic stiffness occurs when the elastic fibers within the arterial wall (elastin) begin to fray due to mechanical stress. This is seen with increasing cardiovascular risk factors and aging.