Circulatory System Dynamics

Circulatory System Dynamics reviews cardiovascular dynamics from the analytical viewpoint and indicates ways in which the accumulated knowledge can be expanded and applied to further enhance understanding of the normal mammalian circulation, to ascertain the nature of difficulties associated with disease, and to test the effect of treatment. Comprised of 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the circulatory system, including its anatomy and the trigger for myocardial (heart muscle) contraction. The discussion then turns to measurement of blood pressure using invasive and non-invasive techniques; blood flow measurement, with emphasis on cardiac output and measurement in the microcirculation; the system and pulmonary arterial trees; and pulsatile pressure and flow in pulmonary veins. Subsequent chapters explore microcirculation and the anatomy of the microvasculature; the heart and coronary circulation, paying particular attention to the Frank-Starling mechanism and indices of myocardial "contractility"; and control of blood pressure, peripheral resistance, and cerebral flow. The last two chapters deal with circulatory assistance and the closed cardiovascular system. This book will be of interest to students, practitioners, and researchers in fields ranging from physiology and biology to biochemistry and biophysics.

The first edition of the book was written employing mathematical techniques to formulate the physical principles involved in the structural and functional correlates of the underlying physiology.This current and self-contained second edition updates many of the new findings since its first edition a decade ago. It also includes a new chapter on the 'Interaction with the Heart'. The dynamics of the arterial system, the venous system, the microcirculation and their interaction with the heart are quantitatively described in terms of their structures and functions. Clinical measurements, applications to the cardiovascular field and physiological mechanisms are clearly identified throughout the text. Most importantly, worked examples are provided, such that the readers can appreciate the application aspects of the underlying formulation.

Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics, Volume 1 explores some problems and concepts of mammalian cardiovascular function, with emphasis on experimental studies and methods. It considers pressure measurement in experimental physiology, including the measurements of pulsatile flow, flow velocity, lengths, and dimensions; the use of control theory and systems analysis in cardiovascular dynamics; the application of computer models in cardiovascular research; the meaning and measurement of myocardial contractility; and the consequences of the steady-state analysis of arterial function. Organized into 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the mammalian cardiovascular system and the essential features of cardiovascular function. It then discusses the practical problems associated with the use of pressure transducers in physiological and cardiac laboratories, the challenges involved in pulsatile flow measurement using flowmeters and thermal devices, and the mechanical analysis of the circulatory system. It explains some computer modeling techniques used in investigating the hemodynamics of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and heart muscle; basic concepts of muscle mechanics and the mechanical properties of cardiac muscle; the fluid mechanics of heart valves; and the pressure and flow in large arteries. The book concludes with a chapter on vascular resistance and vascular input impedance. This book is intended for biologists, physical scientists, and others interested in cardiovascular physiology.