Aortic pulsatility drives microvascular organ damage in essential hypertension: New evidence from choroidal thickness assessment

In a healthy cardiovascular system, the compliant properties of the large arteries ensure that pulsations in pressure and flow generated by cyclic left ventricular contraction are dampened at the site of the ascending aorta into a continuous pressure (and flow) downstream at the site of arterioles. This allows for the delivery of a steady flow of blood during organ perfusion, and the microvasculature of target organs is protected from the damaging effects of pressure pulsatility.