With aging, arteries tend to become what?

• A. Become more rigid
• B. No change
• C. Less elastic
• D. More elastic

Answer: (C)

Arteries become less elastic as we age. This happens because the elastic fibers in the arterial walls gradually break down and are replaced by stiffer tissue rich in collagen, often with some calcification in the vessel walls. These structural changes reduce the arteries’ ability to stretch when the heart beats and to recoil between beats, so they become stiffer or less compliant.

That reduced elasticity has real effects: systolic blood pressure tends to rise and pulse pressure widens, since the arteries can’t dampen the surge of blood as effectively. This increased stiffness also contributes to a higher workload on the heart and can affect how the body senses blood pressure.