Elastic Arteries Maintain Continuous Blood Flow

Steps:

• Recall that elastic arteries, like the aorta, have high elastin content in walls for stretch and recoil.
• Identify their function: expand during ventricular systole to store energy, recoil in diastole to propel blood.
• Compare to muscular arteries: these have more smooth muscle for vasoconstriction, not primary recoil.
• Evaluate choices: match descriptions to definitions of artery types and functions.

Why C is correct:

• Elastic arteries' elastin allows expansion in systole and recoil in diastole, sustaining diastolic pressure per cardiovascular physiology principles.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Aorta is an elastic artery, not muscular, despite leaving the left ventricle.
• B: Muscular arteries are medium-sized for distribution; elastic ones are largest and closest to heart.
• D: Elastic, not muscular, arteries expand and recoil for smoother flow via Windkessel effect.

Final answer: C