Chapter 6 The cardiovascular system/Fig 6.12.jpg

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Autoregulation allows the cardiac, cerebral and renal circulations to maintain constant flow over a wide range of pressure. Arteriosclerosis due to age and hypertension shifts this curve to the right and renders tissues susceptible to ischaemia if blood pressure falls. Conversely, malignant hypertension is rare in the elderly and in those with longstanding hypertension.