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Microvascular hemodynamics in the chick chorioallantoic membrane
Author(s) -
Smith Amy F.,
Nitzsche Bianca,
Maibier Martin,
Pries Axel R.,
Secomb Timothy W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
microcirculation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.793
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1549-8719
pISSN - 1073-9688
DOI - 10.1111/micc.12301
Subject(s) - hemodynamics , microcirculation , anatomy , blood flow , plexus , capillary action , chemistry , arteriole , materials science , biomedical engineering , biology , medicine , composite material
Objective The microvasculature of the CAM in the developing chick embryo is characterized by interdigitating arteriolar and venular trees, connected at multiple points along their lengths to a mesh‐like capillary plexus. Theoretical modeling techniques were employed to investigate the resulting hemodynamic characteristics of the CAM . Methods Based on previously obtained anatomical data, a model was developed in which the capillary plexus was treated as a porous medium. Supply of blood from arterioles and drainage into venules were represented by distributions of flow sources and sinks. Predicted flow velocities were compared with measurements in arterioles and venules obtained via video microscopy. Results If it was assumed that blood flowed into and out of the capillary plexus only at the ends of terminal arterioles and venules, the predicted velocities increased with decreasing diameter in vessels below 50 μm in diameter, contrary to the observations. Distributing sources/sinks along arterioles/venules led to velocities consistent with the data. Conclusions These results imply that connections to the capillary plexus distributed along the arterioles and venules strongly affect the hemodynamic characteristics of the CAM . The theoretical model provides a basis for quantitative simulations of structural adaptation in CAM networks in response to hemodynamic stimuli.