Hemodynamics

Hemodynamics or haemodynamics are the dynamics of blood flow. The circulatory system is controlled by homeostatic mechanisms of autoregulation, just as hydraulic circuits are controlled by control systems. The hemodynamic response continuously monitors and adjusts to conditions in the body and its environment. Hemodynamics explains the physical laws that govern the flow of blood in the blood vessels.

Blood flow ensures the transportation of nutrients, hormones, metabolic waste products, oxygen, and carbon dioxide throughout the body to maintain cell-level metabolism, the regulation of the pH, osmotic pressure and temperature of the whole body, and the protection from microbial and mechanical harm.[1]

Blood is a non-Newtonian fluid, and is most efficiently studied using rheology rather than hydrodynamics. Because blood vessels are not rigid tubes, classic hydrodynamics and fluids mechanics based on the use of classical viscometers are not capable of explaining haemodynamics.[2]

The study of the blood flow is called hemodynamics, and the study of the properties of the blood flow is called hemorheology.

  1. ^ Tortora, Gerard J.; Derrickson, Bryan (2012). "The Cardiovascular System: The Blood". Principles of Anatomy & Physiology (13th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 729–732. ISBN 978-0-470-56510-0.
  2. ^ Fieldman, Joel S.; Phong, Duong H.; Saint-Aubin, Yvan; Vinet, Luc (2007). "Rheology". Biology and Mechanics of Blood Flows, Part II: Mechanics and Medical Aspects. Springer. pp. 119–123. ISBN 978-0-387-74848-1.