Segmentary strategy in modeling of cardiovascular system with blood supply to regional skin

Abstract

ObjectiveThe focus of this study is to model the cardiovascular system (CS) involving regional skin blood flow (SBF) to gain new insights into the skin-CS relationship. MethodsA lumped parameter model with a series of electrical components was developed to model the CS involving SBF. Four parts were considered: the heart, arterial circulation, microcirculation (including the skin and other tissues), and the venous system. The model was validated based on previous publications. Additionally, the body surface was divided into seven blocks replaced by lumped resistances in this model, including the head, upper limbs and neck, chest and back, anterolateral abdomen, posterior abdomen, lower limbs, and buttocks. The SBF of each block was described using a weighted average method (relative ratio of cutaneous blood perfusion and regional body surface area) ResultsCardiodynamics characterized the properties of cardiac cycles, including isovolumic contraction, accelerated ejection, decelerated ejection, isovolumic diastole, and filling phases. Blood flow and pulse pressure in the arterial trunk declined and increased, respectively, from the aorta root to the distal portion, exhibiting normal cardiovascular properties. Accordingly, the blood pressure of the arterial branches attached to the arterial trunk also satisfied normal physiological characteristics; the blood flow of all the arterial branches exhibited good agreement with previous studies. Additionally, the modeled SBF of each region was consistent with the data from the weighted average method. ConclusionThis model effectively demonstrates the normal properties of the CS that involves regional SBF and may be promising in the prediction of the skin-CS relationship.