[Shunt and short circuit].
Shunt and short circuit are antonyms. In French, the term shunt has been adopted to denote the alternative pathway of blood flow. However, in French, as well as in Spanish, the word short circuit (court-circuit and cortocircuito) is synonymous with shunt, giving rise to a linguistic and scientific inconsistency. Scientific because shunt and short circuit made reference to a phenomenon that occurs in the field of the physics. Because shunt and short circuit are antonyms, it is necessary to clarify that shunt is an alternative pathway of flow from a net of high resistance to a net of low resistance, maintaining the stream. Short circuit is the interruption of the flow, because a high resistance impeaches the flood. This concept is applied to electrical and cardiovascular physiology, as well as to the metabolic pathways.
Rangel-Abundis
Alberto
A
Servicio de Hemodinámica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, IMSS, Seris y Zaachila s/n, Col. La Raza, Deleg. Atzcapotzalco, 02990 México, D.F., México. rangel_albertomx@yahoo.com.mx
D006801:Humans; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D009626:Terminology as Topic