TRANSFORMATION OF THE ARTERIAL PULSE WAVE BETWEEN THE AORTIC ARCH AND THE FEMORAL ARTERY

Abstract

Arterial pressure pulses recorded optically in anesthetized dogs have been analyzed by subtracting the central arterial pulse from pulses recorded from the abdominal aorta and the femoral artery. These analyses revealed that as the arterial pulse is transmitted peripherally, its contour becomes modified by 2 major factors: (1) a "distortion factor" which dominates the peak of the femoral pulse and (2) the addition of a prominent pressure oscillation due to a standing wave in the aortic system which is represented in the dicrotic waves. The distortion factor is produced by damping of the transmitted wave, distortion of this wave by variations in pulse wave velocity, and local reflections. These observations serve to reinforce the standing wave concept, but indicate the necessity for distinguishing the 1st phase of this wave from the distortion factor.