Orientation and deformation of erythrocytes in flowing blood.
The effects of flow on the changes of electrical resistivity and light-scattering characteristics of blood are experimentally and theoretically discussed. Studies indicate that most erythrocytes deform and orient themselves in the flow direction when blood flows in a conduit. Such oriented blood shows anisotropic properties. Anisotropic electrical resistivity of flowing blood is measured in three rectangular directions with a measurement cell of coaxial cylindrical type. From these experimental results, the orientation and deformation of erythrocytes are discussed. The orientation ratio and the deformation are calculated using a simplified spheroidal model of an erythrocyte. Calculated results show that the fractions of erythrocytes with their short axis parallel to each direction and the equivalent axis ratio for a simplified spheroidal model change with the shear rate of flow.
Fujii
M
M
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakajima
K
K
Sakamoto
K
K
Kanai
H
H
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D048429:Cell Size; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012542:Scattering, Radiation