CHANGES WITH AGE IN MUSCULAR PULMONARY-ARTERIES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 101  (4) , 175-179
Abstract
The mean wall thickness, in relation to the external diameter, of 100 muscular arteries distended by Ba gelatin at 100 cm H2O pressure was calculated in normal lungs from patients who ranged in age from 3-79 yr. For normal vessels < 2 mm in diameter the mean was 2.4% of the external diameter. The mean for vessels in the 5 persons under 40 yr was 1.8% but it was 2.8% for the 5 older individuals. Although this difference may reflect some increased muscularity with age, some of the increment may be related to a reduced distensibility of vessels caused by the accumulation of interstitial fluid, as manifested by increased weight in the older lungs. Intimal fibrosis was found to increase with age but occurred in less than 50% of the vessels measured.