Impella is a ventricular assist device, that is FDA approved for short-term support of the left ventricle. There is also a version that can be used for the right ventricle as well. The device can support 2.5 to 5 L/min of blood flow, the latter of which is considered a normal cardiac output.
The pulmonary vasculature refers to the network of blood vessels associated with the lungs, responsible for facilitating the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the lungs and the bloodstream.
The nodal action potential is a specialized electrical event that occurs in certain cells within the heart’s conduction system, particularly in the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. These action potentials play a fundamental role in orchestrating the rhythmic and coordinated contractions of the heart.
Nitric Oxide (NO) is a vital signaling molecule that plays a multifaceted role in various biological processes within the human body. Discovered in the late 1970s, it was initially considered an air pollutant before its physiological significance was recognized.
The ventricular action potential is a complex electrical event that governs the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart’s ventricles, the main pumping chambers. It comprises distinct phases, each characterized by specific changes in membrane potential due to the sequential opening and closing of ion channels.
Hemodynamics refers to the study of the forces and flow of blood within the cardiovascular system. Within this intricate system, vascular resistance plays a crucial role in regulating blood flow and maintaining optimal tissue perfusion.
Vascular resistance is a measure of the opposition encountered by blood as it travels through the blood vessels. It is primarily determined by three factors: vessel radius, vessel length, and blood viscosity.
The Reynolds Number is a dimensionless quantity used in fluid mechanics to predict the behavior of fluid flow. It’s named after Osborne Reynolds, who first described it in the late 19th century. The Reynolds Number (Re) is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid flow system.
Vascular compliance refers to the ability of blood vessels to stretch and expand in response to pressure changes while maintaining their structural integrity. It’s a crucial physiological parameter that influences blood pressure regulation and overall cardiovascular health.
Poiseuille’s equation, named after the French physicist Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille, describes the steady, laminar flow of a viscous fluid through a cylindrical pipe. It’s a fundamental equation in fluid dynamics and plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of fluids in various systems, such as blood flow in arteries or the flow of liquids in pipes.
Muscle blood flow refers to the circulation of blood within the muscles of the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products. This process is essential for muscle function during both rest and physical activity.
