pulse pressure?

Question

Why is it that pulse pressure (diff between systolic and diastolic P) is chronically increased by arteriosclerosis? It has to do with elastic arteries being less stretchy but how?
also, at the end of the arterial tree, there is no elastic rebound of vessels and so pulse pressure has disappeared? what does that mean?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Arteriosclerosis makes the arteries less elastic so as the consequences:

As the arterial wall becomes stiffer, the vessels are not able to distend when blood is pumped and forced into the aorta and arteries with each ventricular contraction. With the increased blood volume and less elastic arteries, systolic pressure is increased.

When the heart contracts, blood enters the arteries very fast, and the arteries stretch from the pressure which makes the peripheral resistance. As the elasticity of the arteries decrease, peripheral resistance also decreases resulting to decreased diastolic blood pressure.

Increased systolic and decreased diastolic will result to increased pulse pressure.

Also, arteriosclerosis in the kidney's arteries can impair their ability to rid the body of salt and water, which also result to an increase in blood pressure.