Figure 2.

Schematic illustration of the influence of pulse wave velocity on central hemodynamics. (A) Healthy blood vessel. The periphery reflected pulse wave arrives at the end of the forward pulse wave due to a normal pulse wave velocity. The composite of both pulse waves leads to a small increase of the augmentation pressure and hence a small increase of the central systolic blood pressure and the left ventricular afterload. (B) Stiff blood vessel. An increase in a blood vessel’s arterial stiffness results in a higher pulse wave velocity and therefore an earlier arrival of the periphery reflected pulse wave into the forward pulse wave. The composite of both pulse waves leads to a larger increase of the augmentation pressure and hence a larger increase of the central systolic blood pressure and the left ventricular afterload. cSBP, central systolic blood pressure; AP, augmentation pressure; cPP, central pulse pressure; cDBP, central diastolic blood pressure.