The arterial wall undergoes substantial remodeling whenever the local blood flow changes for more than a few days [1]. An increase in flow causes an increase in inner radius, which occurs in two phases and tends to restore the baseline levels of intimal shear stress [2]. Firstly, an acute dilation of the artery occurs due to relaxation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells [3]. Secondly, a long-term media reconstruction takes place, during which VSM cells migrate and proliferate circumferentially causing an increase in undeformed lumen. Moreover, arterial wall thickens to restore the altered wall stress [4].
Volume Subject Area:
Cardiovascular Mechanics
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