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1. Tortuosity and aneurysmal expansion of capillaries and arterioles occur,

their fibrosis and hyaline degeneration develop, which leads to obliteration of the

capillary network vessels, which impairs transmembrane exchange.

2. Blood supply to the main organs becomes inadequate.

3. As a result of insufficiency of coronary circulation, dystrophy of muscle fi-

bers, their atrophy and replacement with connective tissue develop. Atherosclerotic

cardiosclerosis is formed, which leads to heart failure and heart rhythm disorders.

4. As a result of myocardial sclerosis, its contractility decreases, and dilatation

of the heart cavities develops.

5. «Senile heart» (age-related changes in the heart muscle) is one of the main

factors in the development of heart failure due to changes in neurohumoral regula-

tion and prolonged myocardial hypoxia.

7. In old age, the blood clotting system is activated, functional insufficiency of

anticoagulant mechanisms develops, and blood rheology worsens.

Age-related anatomical and physiological features of the digestive system

1. Oral cavity: develops involution of the salivary glands, changes the chewing

apparatus.

2. Esophagus: the mucous membrane atrophies, peristalsis decreases, and dys-

kinesia develops more often.

3. Stomach: secretory and enzymatic activity decreases, motor activity slows

down.

4. Liver: the number of hepatocytes decreases, their regeneration processes are

suppressed, and the functional activity of the liver decreases. There is a tendency

to decrease the level of bilirubin, bile acids and phospholipids and increase choles-

terol. A decrease in the parameters of the bile lipid complex contributes to a viola-

tion of intestinal digestion, which is manifested by dyspeptic disorders.

5. Pancreas: age-related tissue atrophy leads to a decrease in extrasecretory

function and, consequently, a slowdown in cavity and membrane digestion.

6. Intestines: the height of the intestinal villi decreases and the area of the mu-

cous membrane on which membrane digestion and absorption are carried out de-

creases. Age-related changes in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and thyroid

lead to a rearrangement of the enzymatic spectrum of the small intestine. The mo-

tor activity of the small and large intestines decreases, the composition of the in-

testinal microflora changes, and the phenomena of intestinal dyspepsia worsen.

7. Blood supply and innervation of the digestive system are also subject to func-

tional and structural involutional changes.

Age-related anatomical and physiological features of urinary organs

1. Progressive accumulation of connective tissue components in almost all

structural elements of the kidney, which leads to the so-called senile kidney

atrophy.