Emergence of a new paradigm in understanding the cardiovascular system

Abstract

• The large conduit arteries undergo rhythmic smooth muscle
activation in synchrony with the cardiac cycle.
• The contractions are neurogenic and are denoted as pulse
synchronized contractions (PSCs).
• PSCs are not a movement artifact from the pulse wave or
heartbeat.
• The pacemaker for the PSCs is in the right atrium.
• The smooth muscle wall of large arteries can contract as fast as
the heartbeat.