Instantaneous changes in arterial compliance reduce energetic load on left ventricle during systole

We tested the hypothesis that arterial compliance changes during each cardiac cycle, and that these instantaneous changes are beneficial for energy conservation. Using an adaptive identification procedure, we were able to obtain an instantaneous impulse-response representation of the arterial system. By assuming a three-element windkessel model, we obtained the instantaneous compliance. The arterial compliance remained relatively constant during diastole but increased during systole. The calculated time trajectory was compared with an optimal compliance calculation based on minimum ventricular ejection energy criteria. The two compliance trajectories followed similar paths. We conclude that increases in arterial compliance during systole reduce the energy demands on the left ventricle.