A micro-scale simulation of red blood cell passage through symmetric and asymmetric bifurcated vessels.

ABSTRACT: Blood exhibits a heterogeneous nature of hematocrit, velocity, and effective viscosity in microcapillaries. Microvascular bifurcations have a significant influence on the distribution of the blood cells and blood flow behavior. This paper presents a simulation study performed on the two-dimensional motions and deformation of multiple red blood cells in microvessels with diverging and converging bifurcations. Fluid dynamics and membrane mechanics were incorporated. Effects of cell shape, hematocrit, and deformability of the cell membrane on rheological behavior of the red blood cells and the hemodynamics have been investigated. It was shown that the blood entering the daughter branch with a higher flow rate tended to receive disproportionally more cells. The results also demonstrate that re

SUBMITTER: Wang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4735796 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature