Origins of the backward traveling wave in the arterial tree

Backward traveling waves, an important determinant of central haemodynamics, are usually regarded as being due to reflections from discontinuities in the arterial tree. However, consideration of a single tube model of the arterial with a single site of reflection shows that a backward pressure wave may be generated by elastic recoil of large arteries, in which case the magnitude of the backward wave is proportional to that of the forward wave. A 55-segment 1-D model of the arterial which allows reflection as a continuum along the arterial tree and, for a given prescribed aortic flow, generates physiological aortic pulse waveforms was used to examine the relation of the backward to forward pressure waves in 4107 “virtual subjects” with arterial parameters spanning the physiological range.

Source: Artery Research - November 24, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ye Li, Henry Fok, Benyu Jiang, Sally Epstein, Marie Willemet, Jordi Alastruey, Kim Parker, Phil Chowienczyk Source Type: research