[Significance of hemodynamics and hemorheology in microcirculation disorders]

The angioarchitecture of the terminal vascular system and the rheologic properties of the flowing blood lead to its inhomogeneous distribution in the so-called microcirculation. Together with the spatial disproportion in the vascular pattern, a temporal inhomogeneity becomes quantitatively and qualitatively measurable with the help of intravital microscopy in animal experiments. Vasomotion in the precapillary vessels of resistance and further local regulation mechanisms are discussed, particularly the factors caused by blood fractions and their fluidity. The correlation between blood fractions, plasma and vascular wall is quantifiable by capillary microscopy with the help of dynamic morphometry. Useful consequences for prophylaxis and therapy are summarized in surveys.