The cushioning function of large arteries encompasses distension during systole and recoil
during diastole which transforms pulsatile flow into a steady flow in the microcirculation …

Large, elastic arteries are composed of cells and a specialized extracellular matrix that
provides reversible elasticity and strength. Elastin is the matrix protein responsible for this …

Large artery stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity, is correlated with high blood
pressure and may be a causative factor in essential hypertension. The extracellular matrix …

Williams–Beuren syndrome, a multisystem disorder caused by the deletion of a
chromosome region of 1.5 million to 1.8 million base pairs containing 26 to 28 genes, is a …

Human skin consists of a stratified, cellular epidermis and an underlying dermis of
connective tissue [1–5]. The dermal–epidermal junction is undulating in section; ridges of …

Williams syndrome (WS) is a relatively rare microdeletion disorder that occurs in as many as
1: 7,500 individuals. WS arises due to the mispairing of low-copy DNA repetitive elements at …

Elastic fibres are insoluble components of the extracellular matrix of dynamic connective
tissues such as skin, arteries, lungs and ligaments. They are laid down during development …

2126 Circulation May 28, 2013 alternates with a ring of smooth muscle, forming a lamellar
unit. 20 The elastic lamellae allow an artery to respond to the increased hemodynamic …

Elastic fibers provide recoil to tissues that undergo repeated deformation, such as blood
vessels, lungs and skin. Composed of elastin and its accessory proteins, the fibers are …

Inflammatory arterial diseases differentially affect the compartments of the vessel wall. The
intima and adventitia are commonly involved by the disease process, with luminal and …