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Hemodynamics

Timothy W Secomb1

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Comprehensive Physiology
|April 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

This review covers physical principles of blood flow and pressure distribution in vessels. Understanding hemodynamics, including blood properties and vessel mechanics, is crucial for circulatory system function and disease.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Biophysics
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • The circulatory system's function relies on complex interactions between blood flow, pressure, and vessel properties.
  • Understanding these hemodynamics is key to comprehending cardiovascular health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental physical principles governing blood flow and pressure distribution within the vascular system.
  • To highlight the interplay of cardiac output, blood rheology, and vascular architecture.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing knowledge on fluid dynamics applied to the cardiovascular system.
  • It examines the roles of pulsatile pressure, blood viscosity, inertia, and vessel biomechanics.

Main Results:

  • Blood flow and pressure dynamics are influenced by heart's pulsatile output, blood's flow characteristics, and vessel geometry/properties.
  • Flow phenomena vary significantly with vessel size, from pulse wave propagation in arteries to cell suspension effects in microcirculation.
  • Vessel wall stresses from flow and pressure trigger biological responses influencing vascular control and remodeling.

Conclusions:

  • Hemodynamics, encompassing fluid dynamics and biomechanics, is essential for understanding cardiovascular system operation.
  • Knowledge of these physical principles is vital for addressing cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and atherosclerosis.

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