The analysis of the circulation of the blood is one of the most important areas of fluid mechanics research, with far-reaching medical and physiological implications.

This classic book outlines the anatomy and physiology of the circulation and explains the mechanical principles that govern it.

This book provides a guiding thread between the distant fields of fluid mechanics and clinical cardiology. Well rooted in the science of fluid dynamics, it drives the reader across progressively more realistic scenarios up to the complexity of routine medical applications. Based on the author’s 25 years of collaborations with cardiologists, it helps engineers learn communicating with clinicians, yet maintaining the rigor of scientific disciplines. This book starts with a description of the fundamental elements of fluid dynamics in large blood vessels. This is achieved by introducing a rigorous physical background accompanied by examples applied to the circulation, and by presenting classic and recent results related to the application of fluid dynamics to the cardiovascular physiology. It then explores more advanced topics for a physics-based understanding of phenomena effectively encountered in clinical cardiology. It stands as an ideal learning resource for physicists and engineers working in cardiovascular fluid dynamics, industry engineers working on biomedical/cardiovascular technology, and students in bio-fluid dynamics. Written with a concise style, this textbook is accessible to a broad readership, including students, physical scientists and engineers, offering an entry point into this multi-disciplinary field. It includes key concepts exemplified by illustrations using cutting-edge imaging, references to modelling and measurement technologies, and includes unique original insights.

Biology of the Arterial Wall is intended as a general reference text concerned with the biology of the vascular cells and the blood vessel wall under physiological and pathological conditions. One of the major functions of the arteries is to maintain a continuous blood flow to the organs whatever the pressure conditions, thanks to the vasomotor tone of the smooth muscle cells. Great advances have been made over the last decade in the understanding of the endothelial cells as integrators and transducers of signals originating from the blood stream. The pluripotent control functions of the endothelial cells in the vessel wall are now well recognized. A review of endothelial functions and dysfunctions is presented. Cell biology and molecular genetic studies have now identified an array of molecules elaborated by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and by the blood-borne elements which interact with artery cells, defending the artery against injury and modulating evolving abnormal processes. Molecules which induce or inhibit endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells are currently under great scrutiny. Angiogenesis, which plays a major role in tumor growth, but may also be beneficial as a healing process in muscle ischemia, is discussed. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, has only recently been recognized as an essential process in blood vessel modeling and remodeling. An overview of apoptosis in the vascular system is presented. It is increasingly evident that the adjustments of the blood vessel wall are made in the presence of deforming disease processes such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. The second part of the book is concerned with the blood vessel wall in disease conditions. Several chapters review the role of the vessel and vascular cells in inflammation, and vascular remodeling during arterial hypertension and aging. One chapter is devoted to atherogenesis, atheroma and plaque instability, followed by the pathophysiology of post-angioplasty restenosis, which is a crucial issue in modern interventional cardiology.

Both broad and deep in coverage, Rubenstein shows that fluid mechanics principles can be applied not only to blood circulation, but also to air flow through the lungs, joint lubrication, intraocular fluid movement and renal transport. Each section initiates discussion with governing equations, derives the state equations and then shows examples of their usage. Clinical applications, extensive worked examples, and numerous end of chapter problems clearly show the applications of fluid mechanics to biomedical engineering situations. A section on experimental techniques provides a springboard for future research efforts in the subject area. - Uses language and math that is appropriate and conducive for undergraduate learning, containing many worked examples and end of chapter problems - All engineering concepts and equations are developed within a biological context - Covers topics in the traditional biofluids curriculum, as well as addressing other systems in the body that can be described by biofluid mechanics principles, such as air flow through the lungs, joint lubrication, intraocular fluid movement, and renal transport - Clinical applications are discussed throughout the book, providing practical applications for the concepts discussed.

New updated edition first published with Cambridge University Press. This new edition includes 29 chapters on topics as diverse as pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, vascular haemodynamics, haemostasis, thrombophilia and post-amputation pain syndromes.

The book presents the state of the art in the interdisciplinary field of fluid mechanics applied to cardiovascular modelling. It is neither a monograph nor a collection of research papers, rather an extended review in the field. It is arranged in 4 scientific chapters each presenting thoroughly the approach of a leading research team; two additional chapters prepared by biomedical scientists present the topic by the applied perspective. A unique feature is a substantial (approx. one fourth of the book) medical introductory part, written by clinical researchers for scientific readers, that would require a large effort to be collected otherwise.