How Do Blood Vessel Structures Affect Blood Pressure?

Blood vessels' structural integrity is vital in maintaining consistent blood pressure. Elastic arteries like the aorta have a high content of elastic fibers, allowing them to stretch and recoil with each heartbeat, thereby smoothing out the pulse wave. Muscular arteries have a thicker tunica media, which allows for greater regulation of vessel diameter and thus blood pressure. Pathological changes in these structures, such as atherosclerosis, can significantly impact blood pressure regulation.