Scatter in input impedance spectrum may result from the elastic nonlinearity of the arterial wall

We have examined the role of the nonlinear elastic properties of the arterial wall on the human aortic input impedance obtained at different heart rates and different pressure and flow wave shapes. Pressure and flow were taken from a computer model that provides realistic simulations of the nonlinear distributed systemic arterial tree. Different wave shapes of ascending aorta pressure and flow and different heart rates were used to derive input impedance moduli and phase angles via Fourier analysis. The results show that the nonlinear elastic properties of the arterial wall are responsible for significant variations in the input impedance spectrum when changes in heart rate and aortic flow wave shape take place. This finding may explain the scatter often observed in experimentally determined input impedance data using different heart rates obtained by pacing.