From the fluid mechanics point of view, and in the light of model predictions, it is concluded that the strong differences in the values of blood pressure observed at the base of the brain and at cortical locations are caused by the differences in the resistance to flow opposed by the vasculature. Specifically, viscous dissipation in the small and lengthy vessels supplying blood to the cortical peripheral beds is responsible for the larger pressure drop from the central arterial pressure to prearteriolar blood pressure with respect to the pressure drop in the vessels supplying the arterioles at the base of the brain. This is also verified in the sensitivity analysis. In fact, from the geometrical point of view, resistance to flow is proportional to vessel length and inversely proportional to the vessel radius to the power of four. Thus, it is the anatomical arrangement of the cerebral circulation, which determines that lengthy vessels supplying the convexity preserve cortical peripheral beds from high blood pressure.
{strong Heart Ep 22 Eng Sub}
2ff7e9595c
Comments