Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an indicator associated with the arterial stiffness. Although this technique has been used in the diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), it cannot supply alone enough information about the pathogenesis of this disturbance. This paper aims to determine the compliance of brachial-radial arterial segment by applying a three-element windkessel model, and by using the same pressure waveforms acquired to calculate the PWV. The proposed method to determine the arterial compliance was evaluated with a physical simulation of the arterial system, where parameters were known, resulting in an estimation error of 0.73 x 10(-7) cm5 dyne(-1). In a clinical study the estimated compliance was statistically different (p < 0.01) in a controlled group ((3.12 +/- 3.53) x 10(-7) cm5 dyne(-1)) and in an SAH group ((1.04 +/- 0.74) x 10(-7) cm5 dyne(-1)). It was observed that the PWV value calculated using the maximum of the first derivative of the pressure waveform upstroke as characteristic points was the best correlated (r = -0.71) with the determined compliance. Because SAH normally results, among other causes. from a decreased arterial compliance the results suggest that the determined compliance could be used concomitantly with PWV to supply more diagnostic information about the pathogenesis of SAH.