Vascular resistance at low frequencies may explain the physiological role of Mayer waves: A fractal arterial tree model study

Abstract

We numerically investigate a 1-D mathematical model of blood flow related with harmonic blood pressure modes (BP) in the fractal model of a human arterial tree [1]. We calculated the model admittance: inverse of the Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR) as a function of frequency. We show that the peak of admittance (maximum flow) may appear at low frequency, below 1 Hz. Total flow in presence of such low frequency oscillations is higher than without it. Introduction of these oscillations by cardiovascular regulatory loops may provide a supplementary mechanism which can increase the total blood flow (venous return) in situations of increased demand. The result may add new value to the analysis of the Mayer waves.