The vascular wall consists of a layer of vascular endothelial cells (VasEC) and a sublayer of vascular smooth muscle cells (VasSMC). Vascular remodeling often involves paracrine signaling between VasECs and VasSMCs and diseases such as calcification can result from improper communication between these cells. Various oscillatory flow profiles alter cell responses to its immediate environment via both cell-to-cell paracrine and autocrine communication. Different flow groups experienced by VasECs may lead to the secretin of factors that enable paracrine regulation of VasSMC’s phenotype. There may be a range of oscillations that maintains vascular tissue integrity.

VasECs are known to respond to hemodynamic stimuli, and VasEC dysfunction in atherosclerosis occurs preferentially at regions with oscillatory flow.

VasSMCs are a particular type of smooth muscle cells that make up the majority of blood vessel walls. The main function of VasSMC involves contraction and relaxation of blood vessels in response to regulate vessel homeostasis.