Windkessel Vessel --- Aorta and big arteries Contain a large amount of elastic tissue besides the smooth muscle Transiently store blood during systole, and then shrink to produce onward blood flow during diastole 120 60 LVP aft Atrium Ventricle Diastole TIME (s) Function of the windkessel vesselWindkessel Vessel --- Aorta and big arteries. ➢ Contain a large amount of elastic tissue besides the smooth muscle. ➢ Transiently store blood during systole, and then shrink to produce onward blood flow during diastole