CIRCULATORY DYNAMICS IN THE HUMAN
In circulatory dynamics, there are strong
correlations between the engineering principles and the physiological phenomena.
In macrocirculation, the most fundamental flow equation is the Poiseuille
equation which leads to the description of the pressure, cardiac output and
total peripheral resistance of the total body circulation. The blood vessels are
distensible resulting in a pulsatile nature of the blood pressure. The
relationship between the transmural pressure changes and the volume changes
follows the capacitance equation. In microcirculation, the filtration-reabsorption
process of capillaries follows the Starling's hypothesis. The imbalance of the
process results in the formation of edema. The blood pressure in men at rest and
in response to stresses is constantly regulated by the autonomic nervous system
following the principle of control theory. During the laboratory session,
students will learn how to measure the blood pressure and heart rate, to
determine their responses to postural change, exercise and cold stress, and to
observe the capillary phenomena in response to vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
Before the laboratory session, students are urged to read or review sections on
the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular physiology of any standard
human physiology textbook.