By PhD Marek Tuliszka

Department of Biophysics
Poznań University of Medical Sciences
 ∆𝑣
𝐹 =𝜂∙𝑆∙
∆𝑥
viscosity velocity gradient
rate of shear
N∙s
𝜂 = 2 = Pa ∙ s
F m
Newtonian
fluid 1 P = 0.1 Pa·s
P - poise

0 rate of shear
 WATER BLOOD
η2O = 0.0010 Pa·s (1.0 cP)
η37 = 0.0007 Pa·s η37 = 0.0030―0.0040 Pa·s
(0.007 P = 0.7 cP) (0.04 P = 4cP)

viscosity

asymptotic value at infinitely high temperature

η∞
absolute temperature
Parabolic velocity profile
 2𝑟𝑑𝑣
𝑅𝑁 =
𝜂

Re < 2000 Re > 3000

Whether turbulent or laminar flow exist in a tube under given conditions may be predicted on the
basis of a dimensionless number called the REYNOLDS NUMBER. This number represents the ratio
of inertial to viscous forces.
  hematocrit

 rate of shear

Non-Newtonian behavior of normal blood.

Viscosity (apparent viscosity) is relatively high at low
rates of shear but approaches an asymptotic value
above 100 sec-1.
 vessel (tube) diameter The Fåhraeus - Lindquist
effect.
3.0
Apparent relative viscosity
2.8

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Tube diameter, mm

The relative, apparent viscosity of whole blood declines markedly in tubes

of diameters less than approximately 0.4 mm.
 Plasma layer of smaller
viscosity (lubricant)

Consequence of the axial accumulation:

- the transit time of erythrocytes through the vascular tree is shorter than that of plasma.
 Requirements:

 laminar flow

 incompressible fluid
 The law of continuity
 steady flow (?)

 rigid walls (?)

 The Hagen-Poiseuille law
and the vascular
resistance

 non-viscous
fluid (!)
 The Bernoulli’s Principle
 incompressible fluid
 ∆𝑉 m3 mlitre litre
The volume rate of flow: 𝑄= 𝑄 = or or
∆𝑡 s s minte

In the case of laminar flow of an incompressible fluid flowing through rigid tubes the volume
rate of flow Q remains constant!

𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡.
∆𝑉
𝑄= = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡.
∆𝑡
∆𝑉 𝑆 ∙ ∆𝑙
𝑄= = =𝑆∙𝑣
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡

𝑆1 ∙ 𝑣1 = 𝑆2 ∙ 𝑣2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡.

𝑣1 𝑆2
=
𝑣2 𝑆1

For any given flow the ratio of the velocity past one cross section relative to that past a
second section depends only on the inverse ratio of the respective areas.
 If the cross-sectional area of a tube increases the velocity of flowing liquid decreases and inversely.

𝑆1 ∙ 𝑣1 = 𝑆2 ∙ 𝑣2 = 𝑆3 ∙ 𝑣3

For the same volume of fluid per second passing from section
area S1 to section area S2, which is five times greater, the
velocity of flow diminishes to one fifth of its previous value.

Changes in blood velocity in the system of circulation:

 What factors affect the volume rate of flow Q through the tube above?

 the pressure difference between the ends of the tube p

 the viscosity of the fluid 

𝝅𝒓𝟒
 the tube radius r 𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑
𝟖𝜼𝒍
 the tube length l

The analogy:
The p factor can substitute for the difference in the mean
arterial systolic pressure MAP and the mean right diastolic
ventricular pressure MVP
𝝅𝒓𝟒
𝑪𝑶 = ∙ 𝑴𝑨𝑷 − 𝑴𝑽𝑷
𝟖𝜼𝒍
Q is the analogue of the cardiac output CO
 𝝅𝒓𝟒
𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑
𝟖𝜼𝒍

𝒊 ∆𝑽
By analogy with ∆𝑉
Ohm’s law 𝑖=
𝑅
𝟏 𝝅𝒓𝟒
V 𝒊 = ∙ ∆𝑽 𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑
i ∆𝑞 𝑹 𝟖𝜼𝒍
R 𝑖=
∆𝑡
𝟖𝜼𝒍 ∆𝒑
The hydraulic or vascular resistance: 𝑹𝐕 = 𝑹𝐕 =
𝝅𝒓𝟒 𝑸
Pa ∙ s
𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑅V: 𝟏
m3 𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑
𝑹𝐕
1 mmHg
𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑅V:
1 mliter
min
Application in physiology
 𝑴𝑨𝑷 SVR – Sysytemic Vascular Resistance
𝑪𝑶 = CO – cardiac output
𝑺𝑽𝑹 MAP – mean arterial pressure

1 mmHg
Unit of 𝑅V:
1 mliter
min
 Vascular resistance – examples:
𝟏 𝐷𝐼𝐹𝐹𝐸𝑅𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐼𝑁 𝑃𝑅𝐸𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐸
𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑 𝐹𝐿𝑂𝑊 =
𝑹𝐕 𝑅𝐸𝑆𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝑇𝑂 𝐹𝐿𝑂𝑊

𝐷𝐼𝐹𝐹𝐸𝑅𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐼𝑁 𝑃𝑅𝐸𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐸
𝑅𝐸𝑆𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝑇𝑂 𝐹𝐿𝑂𝑊 =
𝐹𝐿𝑂𝑊

Example: Cardiac output (CO) through the circulatory system, when a person is at rest,
is 100 ml/s (6000 ml/min.)
and
the pressure difference from the systemic arteries to the systemic veins is
approximately about 100 mmHg. Therefore the resistance of the entire
system, SVR (the systemic vascular resistance) is approximately equal to:

100 mmHg 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 mmHg ∙ min

𝑆𝑉𝑅 = = 0.017 = 0.017
ml ml ml
6000
min min
Example: The brain has flow 750 ml per minute, the pressure difference is 100 mmHg.
Determine the cerebrovascular resistance (CVB):

100 mmHg mmHg∙min

𝑅CVB = ml = 0.13
750 minute ml

Example: The lungs have flow 100 ml/s, mean pulmonary arterial pressure is
16 mmHg and mean left atrial pressure is 2 mmHg, thus:
16 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 −2 mmHg mmHg∙min
𝑅lungs = ml = 0.0023
6000 minute ml

NOTE:
If the difference of pressure at the end terminals of a system is smaller, whereas the rate of
flow is unchanged the vascular resistance shown by the system is : …………………..
𝟏 ∆𝒑
𝑸= ∙ ∆𝒑 𝑅V =
𝑹𝐕 𝑄
 ∆𝑝
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤
Since total flow is the same through the various
series components of the circulatory system, the
greatest resistance to flow resides in the arterioles
(the greatest drop in pressure).

8𝜂𝑙
𝑅V = 4
𝜋𝑟
𝑙
𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 4
𝑟
 𝑄A = 𝑄V = 𝑄T
𝑄T = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3
 𝑄T = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3

Δ𝑝
𝑄=
𝑅

Δ𝑝 = 𝑝A − 𝑝V
𝑝A − 𝑝V 𝑝A − 𝑝V 𝑝A − 𝑝V 𝑝A − 𝑝V
= + +
𝑅𝑒𝑞. 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +
𝑹𝒆𝒒. 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

R1 = 3 u. 1 1 1 1 13 12 u.
R2 = 2 u. = + + = 𝑹𝒆𝒒. = = 0.92 u.
𝑹𝒆𝒒. 3 u. 2 u. 4 u. 12 u. 13
R3 = 4 u.
 Δ𝑝 = Δ𝑝1 + Δ𝑝2 + Δ𝑝3

The pressure drops along the streamline due to frictional flow of viscous fluid.

Δ𝑝
𝑄= Δ𝑝 = 𝑄 ∙ 𝑹𝒆𝒒. 𝑄 ∙ 𝑹𝒆𝒒. = 𝑄 ∙ 𝑅1 + 𝑄 ∙ 𝑅2 + 𝑄 ∙ 𝑅3
𝑹𝒆𝒒.

𝑹𝒆𝒒. 𝑹𝒆𝒒. = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑
EXAMPLE (series circuit)

𝑙1 = 𝑙 𝑙2 = 2𝑙 𝑙3 = 2𝑙 𝑟1 = 𝑟 𝑟2 = 2r 𝑟3 = 0.5r

Task: Compare values of the vascular resistance of the segments shown in the drawing.

8𝜂𝑙 8𝜂2𝑙 2 8𝜂𝑙 1 8𝜂2𝑙 2 8𝜂𝑙

𝑅V1 = 4 𝑅V2 = = ∙ = 𝑅 𝑅V3 = = ∙ = 32𝑅V1
𝜋 0.5𝑟 4 1 𝜋𝑟 4
𝜋𝑟 𝜋 2𝑟 4 16 𝜋𝑟 4 8 V1
16

Task:
Assuming RV1 equals R, determine total vascular resistance of the system in terms of R.

𝑹𝐓𝐬. = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑 = 𝑹 + 𝟎, 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝑹 + 𝟑𝟐𝑹 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝑹

 𝑙1 = 𝑙 𝑙2 = 2𝑙 𝑙3 = 2𝑙 𝑟1 = 𝑟 𝑟2 = 2r 𝑟3 = 0.5r

Compare drops in pressure along each segment of the system

𝑙
Δ𝑝1 = 𝑄 ∙ 𝑅V1 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟1 = 4
𝑟
1 2𝑙 1 𝑙 𝑙
Δ𝑝2 = 𝑄 ∙ 𝑅V1 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟2 = = = 0,125
8 (2𝑟)4 8 𝑟 4 𝑟4
2𝑙 𝑙
Δ𝑝3 = 32𝑄 ∙ 𝑅V1 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟3 = = 32
(0.5𝑟)4 𝑟4
 total pressure pT
lateral pressure pL

2
1 3

For non-viscous fluid (!):

TOTAL PRESSURE = LATERAL (STATIC) PRESSURE + DYNAMIC PRESSURE = CONSTANT
pT1 = pT2 = pT3 = const.

pL1 + pD1 = pL2 + pD2 = pL3 + pD3= const. 1 d – density of fluid

𝑝D = 𝑑 ∙ 𝑣2
2 v – velocity of fluid
 external „tissue”
pressure
Arteriosclerosis
stenosis
Lateral (static)
blood pressure
r r/3

plateral + pdynamic = const.

S×v = const
1
𝑝D = 𝑑𝑣 2 𝑆 = 𝜋𝑟 2 → 𝑣 × 9
2
corresponding decrease of the
lateral pressure!
4
8𝜂𝑙 1
𝑅V = 4 ⟶ = 81
𝜋𝑟 1
3
Cervical arteries
(X-rays with contrast media)
 𝐾
𝑣𝑝 =
𝜌

K – the bulk modulus of elasticity

ρ - density of flowing fluid,

The bulk modulus of elasticity K is defined as

the ratio of change in pressure Δp and the
relative change in a vessel volume (ΔV/V0)
resulting from this change:
Typical values of the pulse wave
E - Young’s modulus of wall material ∆𝑝 𝐸𝑑 velocity are: 5-8 m/s.
d - wall thickness
𝐾= =
∆𝑉 2𝑅
R - vessel radius 𝑉0
The Young modulus for aorta more
THE VELOCITY VP OF A PULS WAVE: than doubles between the ages of
MOENS- KORTEWEG EQUATION: 20 and 60 years.

𝐾 𝐸𝑑 Typical value of the velocity of

𝑣𝑝 = =𝐹 blood flow in aorta is less
𝑑 2𝑅𝜌
than 0.5 m/s.
F - correction factor (due to viscosity of fluid and presence of surrounding tissues)