Abstract
Many investigators have reported that capillary hematocrits in a variety of tissues are substantially lower than corresponding systemic hematocrits (Johnson, 1971; Klitzman and Duling, 1979; Lipowsky et al., 1980). Part of this apparent discrepancy is due to the Fahraeus effect in individual segments (Fahraeus, 1928), tube hematocrit (volume fraction of red cells within a vessel) being lower than discharge hematocrit (volume fraction of red cells in blood flowing through a vessel). However, in vitro measurements and theoretical arguments indicate that this effect alone is not sufficient to explain the observed hematocrit reduction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Chien S, Usami S, Skalak, R (1984) Blood flow in small tubes. In Renkin EM, Michel CC (eds) Handbook of Physiology, Sec 2, The Cardiovascular System. Vol IV, Pt 1. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, MD, pp 217–249.
Conte SD, de Boor C (1981) Elementary Numerical Analysis. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Desjardins C, Duling BR (1987) Microvessel hematocrit: Measurement and implications for capillary oxygen transport. Am J Physiol 252: H494–H503.
Fahraeus R (1928) Die Strömungsverhältnisse und die Verteilung der Blutzellen im Gefässsystem. Klin Wochenschr 7: 100–106.
Johnson PC (1971) Red cell separation in the mesenteric capillary network. Am J Physiol 221: 99–104.
Klitzman B, Duling BR (1979) Microvascular hematocrit and red cell flow in resting and contracting striated muscle. Am J Physiol 237: H481–H490.
Ley K, Pries AR, Gaehtgens P, (1986) Topological structure of rat mesenteric microvessel networks. Microvasc Res 32: 315–332.
Lipowsky HH, Usami S, Chien S (1980) In vivo measurements of “apparent viscosity” and microvessel hematocrit in the mesentery of the cat. Microvasc Res 19: 297–319.
Papenfuss H-D, Gross JF (1986) Mathematical simulation of blood flow in microcirculatory networks. In Popel AS, Johnson PC (eds) Microvascular Networks: Experimental and Theoretical Studies. Karger, Basel.
Pries AR, Kanzow G, Gaehtgens P (1983) Microphotometric determination of hematocrit in small vessels. Am J Physiol 245: H167–H177.
Pries AR, Ley K, Gaehtgens P (1986) Generalization of the Fahraeus principle for microvessel networks. Am J Physiol 251: H1324–H1332.
Pries AR, Ley K, Classen M, Gaehtgens P (submitted for publication) Red cell distribution at microvascular bifurcations. Microvasc Res.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Secomb, T.W., Pries, A.R., Gaehtgens, P., Gross, J.F. (1989). Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Hematocrit Distribution in Microcirculatory Networks. In: Lee, JS., Skalak, T.C. (eds) Microvascular Mechanics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3674-0_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3674-0_4
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8198-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3674-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive