Figure 2. Consequences of arterial stiffening and impaired Windkessel physiology.

During systole, some kinetic energy is stored as potential energy in elastic conduit arteries. This stored energy permits smooth distal tissue perfusion during diastole (blue tracing). With arteriosclerotic stiffening (red tracing), less potential energy is stored during systole, giving rise to more erratic and pulsatile flow during diastole. Diabetes and aging significantly increase arteriosclerotic conduit vessel stiffening¹⁹². Reproduced from reference¹ with permission. See also references^{193, 194,158, 195} for detailed discussion.