Dependence of Cerebral Capillary Hematocrit on Red Cell Flow Separation at Bifurcations: A Computer Simulation Study

Abstract

Previously, we have attempted to estimate hemodynamic parameters of the cerebrocortical microcirculation based on complete geometrical and topological information of a cortical microvascular network (Hudetz et al, 1989). An important element of the calculations is the model of partitioning of red blood cells at vascular bifurcations which primarily determines local vessel hematocrit. The preference of erythrocytes to enter branches with higher flow has been reported and mathematically modeled (Schmid-Schoenbein et al, 1980; Papenfuss and Gross, 1981; Klitzman and Johnson, 1982; Fenton et al, 1985; Levin et al, 1986; Secomb et al, 1989; etc.). The influence of this effect on the calculated hematocrit distribution has not been evaluated systematically, except the recent abstract by Hsu and Cokelet (1989).