The relationship between arterial pulse-wave velocity and pulse frequency at different pressures.

Pulse-wave velocity was measured in isolated canine common carotid arteries using sinusoidal frequency pulses of 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 Hz at 50, 100 and 150 mmHg. It was found that the pulse-wave velocity was independent of frequency and dependent on pressure. Using the Moens-Korteweg equation, the predicted pulse-wave velocity (y) was compared with measured pulse-wave velocity (x). A good correspondence was found (y = 1.063 x - 0.337, with a correlation coefficient of 0.963). The propagation velocity of the significant harmonic components of the pulsatile pressure waveform is the same for heart rates up to 120 beats/min.