Computer simulation of hydrodynamic models, using two dimensional T-junction geometry and experimentally determined arterial wave velocities, shows turbulent blood flow behavior of varying degrees at different critical points of the cardiac cycle. The flow disturbances get stronger when the waveform changes from systolic acceleration to diastolic deceleration. Finally, in the region of diastolic endpoints the flow demonstrates transition to stability due to subsiding blood pressure and arterial wall remodeling effect as a preparation for the start of more streamlined flow at the subsequent cycle. Such flow variations have implications on the initiation of atherosclerosis and interventional surgical procedures designed to alleviate such diseases. First, oscillating wall shear stress can induce different cell signaling pathways which can facilitate the initiation and progression of arterial diseases. Second, through advective transport of atherogenic plasma proteins, filtration to the artery wall is known to be regulated. Third, such constantly changing flows can cause early failure of arterial grafts and could also negatively affect their compatibility with the host tissue.
Animals Arteries