Final answer:
Compliance is the ability of blood vessels to expand and accommodate increased blood flow without increased resistance or blood pressure. Stiffening of arteries reduces compliance, leading to higher pressure, turbulence, and reduced blood flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compliance is the ability of any compartment to expand to accommodate increased content. The greater the compliance of an artery, the more effectively it is able to expand to accommodate surges in blood flow without increased resistance or blood pressure. Veins are more compliant than arteries and can expand to hold more blood. When vascular disease causes stiffening of arteries, compliance is reduced and resistance to blood flow is increased. The result is more turbulence, higher pressure within the vessel, and reduced blood flow. This increases the work of the heart.