Fig. 3
From: Simple Models of Complex Mechanics for Improved Hypertension Care: Learning to De-stiffen Arteries
Proposed mechanism for elastic artery stiffening with vasodilation in older adults. With vasodilation, decreasing smooth muscle tone, vascular smooth muscle supports less mechanical load and the ECM supports more mechanical load. If the ECM is stiffer than the smooth muscle (as is likely the case in older adults), vasodilation shifting load from smooth muscle to the ECM will make the artery stiffer. PEM Peterson’s elastic modulus. Parts of the figure were created with images from Servier Medical Art. Servier Medical Art by Servier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Figure from [19]