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Related Concept Videos

Turbulent Flow01:24

Turbulent Flow

Turbulent flow is characterized by unpredictable fluctuations in velocity and pressure, which result in a chaotic fluid movement distinct from the orderly patterns of laminar flow. While laminar flow is governed by smooth, parallel layers with minimal mixing, turbulent flow exhibits highly irregular, three-dimensional patterns. This behavior arises due to instabilities in the fluid's velocity profile, and amplifies as the flow velocity increases. Minor disturbances, known as turbulent spots,...
Laminar and Turbulent Flow01:07

Laminar and Turbulent Flow

Fluid dynamics is the study of fluids in motion. Velocity vectors are often used to illustrate fluid motion in applications like meteorology. For example, wind—the fluid motion of air in the atmosphere—can be represented by vectors indicating the speed and direction of the wind at any given point on a map. Another method for representing fluid motion is a streamline. A streamline represents the path of a small volume of fluid as it flows. When the flow pattern changes with time, the streamlines...
Applications of Integration to Find Blood Flow01:27

Applications of Integration to Find Blood Flow

Blood flow through a cylindrical blood vessel can be mathematically described using the principles of laminar flow, a regime in which fluid moves smoothly in parallel layers. In this model, the velocity of the blood is not uniform across the cross-section of the vessel; rather, it varies with the radial distance from the center. The maximum velocity occurs along the central axis, decreasing progressively toward the vessel walls, where it reaches zero due to viscous drag.Approximating Blood...
Autoregulation of Blood Flow01:17

Autoregulation of Blood Flow

Autoregulation mechanisms are characterized by their inherent capacity for self-regulation without necessitating specific nervous stimulation or endocrine control. These mechanisms facilitate the adjustment of blood flow and, therefore, perfusion specific to each tissue region. This self-regulation encompasses chemical signals and myogenic controls.
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.
Poiseuille's Law and Reynolds Number01:10

Poiseuille's Law and Reynolds Number

Any fluid in a horizontal tube can flow due to pressure differences—fluid flows from high to low pressure. The flow rate (Q) is the ratio of pressure difference and resistance through a horizontal tube. The greater the pressure difference, the higher the flow rate. The flow resistance is expressed as:
Blood Flow01:29

Blood Flow

Blood is pumped by the heart into the aorta, the largest artery in the body, and then into increasingly smaller arteries, arterioles, and capillaries. The velocity of blood flow decreases with increased cross-sectional blood vessel area. As blood returns to the heart through venules and veins, its velocity increases. The movement of blood is encouraged by smooth muscle in the vessel walls, the movement of skeletal muscle surrounding the vessels, and one-way valves that prevent backflow.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Thrombus Profiling Assay: A Microfluidics-Based Platform for Comprehensively Characterizing Biomechanical Thrombogenesis
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Rethinking turbulence in blood.

Luca Antiga1, David A Steinman

  • 1Medical Imaging Unit, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Ranica (BG), Italy. antiga@marionegri.it

Biorheology
|May 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Turbulent blood flow fluctuations may arise from red blood cell (RBC) interactions, not just traditional eddies. This finding offers new insights into vascular diseases and blood-contacting device design.

Area of Science:

  • * Biomedical Engineering
  • * Fluid Dynamics
  • * Hematology

Background:

  • * Blood flow turbulence is implicated in vascular diseases and device design.
  • * Classical turbulence models struggle to explain blood flow phenomena due to red blood cell (RBC) presence.
  • * Existing models do not fully account for RBCs' role in energy dissipation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate an alternative mechanism for turbulent fluctuations in blood flow.
  • * To explore the role of red blood cells (RBCs) in the dissipation of turbulent energy.
  • * To reconcile the classical turbulence model with the unique properties of blood.

Main Methods:

  • * Theoretical analysis of fluid dynamics in a suspension.
  • * Modeling energy dissipation through cell-cell interactions.

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In Vitro Microfluidic Disease Model to Study Whole Blood-Endothelial Interactions and Blood Clot Dynamics in Real-Time

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  • * Comparing theoretical viscous shear stresses with turbulent stresses.

    • Main Results:

    • * Turbulent velocity fluctuations in blood may result from viscous shear stresses mediated by RBC interactions.
    • * RBCs act as key players in energy dissipation, challenging the classical eddy cascade model.
    • * This mechanism provides a physical basis for forces experienced by blood components.

    Conclusions:

    • * Red blood cells (RBCs) are crucial for understanding turbulence in blood.
    • * A revised model acknowledging RBCs is needed for accurate blood flow turbulence definition.
    • * Findings impact the understanding of mechanical hemolysis and blood-device interactions.