In the majority of cases the area ratios are in close agreement with the theoretically predicted values for forward matched junctions. Minimal pulse wave reflections are therefore expected to arise from the junctions of a healthy arterial system. We therefore consider that, contrary to the established view, the presence of reflected waves in the central arterial system is a potential pathological phenomenon and not a characteristic of the healthy system. This may have important theoretical implications for the way hemodynamic findings are interpreted. Finally we suggest that arterial area ratio can be considered as another criterion of normality of arterial junctions in the interpretation of angiograms.