histology
Last reviewed 01/2018
The ascending aorta is a typical large elastic artery. It has a high proportion of elastic fibres as opposed to myocytes in the tunica media. This permits the energy of the systolic wave to be transmitted to the vessel wall; during diastole, release of this stored potential energy as kinetic energy is used to maintain blood flow.
Collagen fibres within the tunica adventitia prevent overdistention.