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Aortic stretch and recoil create wave-pumping effect: the second heart in the systemic circulation.
Arian Aghilinejad1,2, Coskun Bilgi2, Haojie Geng2
1Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|February 18, 2025
Summary
The adult aorta exhibits longitudinal wave pumping, a mechanism similar to impedance pumps, which may supplement heart function. This study reveals differences in aortic stretch in heart failure patients and characterizes this novel pumping mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biophysics
Background:
- Impedance pump theory explains early heart tube pumping in zebrafish embryos.
- The role of impedance-like mechanisms in the mature cardiovascular system is not well understood.
- Longitudinal displacement of the adult aorta due to heart's long-axis motion is an understudied physiological mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological mechanism of longitudinal aortic displacement in adults.
- To compare aortic displacement profiles in healthy individuals versus heart failure patients.
- To characterize the biomechanical properties of longitudinal wave pumping in the aorta.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to analyze aortic displacement in 159 individuals.
- A comparison was made between a control group and a group with heart failure.
- In vitro experiments were conducted to isolate and study longitudinal aortic wave pumping.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in aortic stretch were observed between control and heart failure groups.
- Three biomechanical properties of stretch-related longitudinal wave pumping were identified.
- These properties include a nonlinear flow-frequency relationship, bidirectional flow, and frequency-dependent flow direction.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal wave pumping in the aorta exhibits characteristics similar to an impedance pump.
- This mechanism generates significant flow, potentially acting as a supplementary pumping mechanism for the heart.
- The findings offer new insights into cardiovascular mechanics and heart failure.
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