Final answer:
Atherosclerosis can lead to hypertension through reduced vessel diameter, which increases resistance to blood flow, and reduced vessel compliance, which diminishes the arteries' ability to expand. The correct answer is A) Reduced vessel diameter and D) Reduced vessel compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lindsay, who has atherosclerosis, is experiencing a condition where fatty plaques build up inside the arteries. This buildup can lead to hypertension, or high blood pressure, through two mechanisms. The first is reduced vessel diameter, meaning the buildup of plaques narrows the arteries, causing increased resistance to blood flow, which raises blood pressure.
The second mechanism is reduced vessel compliance, which refers to the loss of elasticity in the arterial walls, making them stiffer. This stiffness prevents the arteries from expanding properly when blood is pumped through them, leading to an increase in blood pressure.