The longitudinal position matrix of the pig coronary vasculature
and its hemodynamic implications.
Kassab, Ghassan S., Edith Pallencaoe, Aymi Schatz, and Yuan-Cheng B.
Fung.
Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla, CA92093-0412
APStracts 4:0413H, 1997.
Hemodynamic analysis of coronary blood flow must be based on a
statistically valid geometrical model of the coronary vasculature. We
have previously developed a diameter-defined Strahler model for the
arterial and venous trees and a network model for the capillaries. A
full set of data describing the geometric properties of the porcine
coronary vasculature was given. The order number, diameter, length,
connectivity matrix, and the parallel-series features were measured
for all orders of vessels of the right coronary artery (RCA), left
anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and
the coronary venous system. The purpose of the present article is to
present another feature of the branching pattern of the coronary
vasculature: the longitudinal position matrix LPM(mn) whose component
in row m and column n is the fractional longitudinal position of the
branch point on vessels of order n at which vessels of order m branch
off (m<n). The LPM of the pig RCA, LAD and LCX arterial trees as
well as the coronary sinusal and Thebesian venous trees are
presented. The hemodynamic implications of the LPM are illustrated by
comparing two kinds of circuits: One, called the CM+LMP model,
simulates the mean data on the morphology (diameters, lengths,
numbers), connectivity matrix and longitudinal position matrix of
vessels, whereas the other, called the CM model, simulates the mean
data on the morphology and connectivity matrix without considering
the LPM. It is found that the LPM affects the hemodynamics of
coronary blood flow especially with regard to the nonuniformity or
dispersion of flow distribution.
Received 15 April 1996; accepted in final form 29 July 1997.
APS Manuscript Number H327-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 August 1997