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Model of the coronary circulation based on pressure dependence of coronary resistance and compliance

P Bruinsma1, T Arts, J Dankelman

  • 1Department of Medical Physics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Basic Research in Cardiology
|September 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

This study models coronary micro-circulation, revealing that intramyocardial capacitance significantly impacts pressure-induced flow changes. Ignoring these effects can lead to underestimating coronary dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • The coronary micro-circulation's pressure-dependent vascular dynamics are complex.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for interpreting coronary blood flow.
  • Existing models may oversimplify resistance and capacitance effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a distributed mathematical model of the coronary micro-vasculature.
  • To investigate the effects of pressure on vascular volume, resistance, and capacitance.
  • To evaluate the role of intramyocardial capacitive effects in coronary flow.

Main Methods:

  • A distributed mathematical model of the left ventricular wall micro-vasculature was created.
  • The model simulated eight parallel layers, each with arteriolar, capillary, and venular compartments.
  • Poiseuille's Law and sigmoidal pressure-volume relations were applied, assuming linear tissue pressure decrease from endocardium to epicardium.

Main Results:

  • Model simulations reproduced experimental outcomes, including pressure-flow curve shifts during cardiac arrest.
  • The model accurately predicted steady-state flow ratios as a function of heart rate.
  • Results highlighted the significance of pressure-induced changes in vascular capacitance.

Conclusions:

  • Fixed resistance and capacitance models may underestimate intramyocardial capacitive effects.
  • Characteristic time constants for pressure-induced resistance changes are crucial.
  • Accurate modeling of coronary micro-circulation requires incorporating dynamic pressure-volume relationships.

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