Resonance. The missing phenomenon in hemodynamics.

Abstract

To simulate a short segment of the aorta, we studied wave propagation in an elastic tube with a side branch balloon. The small balloon simulated the organ (group of arterioles). Ligation of this side branch would reduce the moduli of the higher harmonics when the length of the side branch was appropriate. Electrical analogy of vessels was used to analyze this phenomenon. This simulation can explain the ligation results we found in rats. It may also clarify the discrepancies between the prediction of the Womersley equation and the experimental results. We suggest that the aorta and the closely attached organ can produce coupled oscillation; theoretically, this structure is equivalent to a resonance circuit.