Abstract
The distensibility of elastic arteries has been extensively studied, while studies of muscular arteries are sparse. The influences of age and gender on the mechanical properties of the common femoral artery (CFA) were studied. The pulsatile diameter changes of the CFA were noninvasively measured using echo-tracking sonography in 173 healthy volunteers (95 females, 78 males, range 7-81 years). In combination with blood pressure measurements, stiffness (beta) and pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep) were calculated. Neither beta nor Ep was related to age or gender and a considerable interindividual variation was present. The CFA diameter increased with age. In conclusion, the distensibility of this muscular artery is not clearly affected by age or gender, although the diameter increases with age. This indicates remodelling of the arterial wall and an impact of vascular smooth muscles on long-term wall mechanics. Thus, there appear to be fundamental differences in the dynamic behaviour of the common femoral artery when compared to elastic arteries, such as the aorta and the common carotid artery.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 181-188 |
| Journal | Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Bibliographical note
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.The record was previously connected to the following departments: Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (013230022), Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200), Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine Unit (013242320), Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (Mö) (013241110)
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Keywords
- Femoral artery
- Ageing
- Gender
- Ultrasound
- Mechanical properties
- Stiffness
- Elastic modulus