Week 2 Summary: Aging Changes in the Cardiac Arterial Systems PDF

2.1 aging changes in the cardiac arterial systems arterial wall structure arterial system increasing age = reduced contractility & elasticity of vascular walls and valves increase in thickness of arteries increased in collag...

2.1 aging changes in the cardiac arterial systems arterial wall structure arterial system increasing age = reduced contractility & elasticity of vascular walls and valves increase in thickness of arteries increased in collagen content decrease in elastin content of arterial walls increased lumen larger endothelial cells decreased # increased size of vascular smooth muscle cells loss of elastin and smooth muscle cells -contributes to less elastic & compliant arterial walls *analogy: like a rubber band that gets overstretched* lumen becomes wider and longer arterial walls get thicker and stiffer w less nitric oxide available to relax smooth muscle cells -predisposes individuals to atherosclerosis or HTN neither is considered normal in aging process veins increase in lumen size less elasticity less efficient valves (increasing change of blood pooling in extremities)