Which statement describes a low-resistance celiac artery waveform?

• A. High-resistance waveform
• B. Low-resistance waveform
• C. Pulsatile waveform with minimal diastolic flow
• D. Reversed diastolic flow

Answer: (B)

Low-resistance flow is what you see in arteries feeding viscera, because the downstream organs present a low impedance path for blood. In Doppler terms, this yields a waveform with a prominent, broad systolic peak and, importantly, continuous forward flow during diastole—high end-diastolic velocity and low pulsatility. The celiac artery supplies organs (liver, spleen, stomach, pancreas) that require steady perfusion, so the downstream bed maintains flow even when the heart is in diastole.

A waveform with minimal diastolic flow reflects high resistance downstream, and reversed diastolic flow points to even more severe impairment or proximal stenosis. A high-resistance pattern would look less like this and show little to no diastolic flow. Hence, the description that matches a low-resistance celiac artery waveform is continuous forward diastolic flow with a relatively low pulsatility.