Prediction of the jugular venous waveform using a model of CSF dynamics.
OBJECTIVE
We have previously reported a model of cerebral hydrodynamics in the form of an equivalent electrical circuit. The aim of this work was to demonstrate that the model could predict venous flow patterns seen in the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), straight sinus (STS), and jugular vein (JV) in normal volunteers.


METHODS
An electrical equivalence model of CSF and cerebral blood flow was fitted to measured arterial and CSF data from 16 healthy volunteers. Predictions of the venous outflow waveform derived from the model were compared with measured venous flows in the SSS, STS, and JV.


RESULTS
The model accurately predicted the measured jugular waveform. The measured waveforms from SSS and STS showed a less pronounced and delayed systolic peak compared with the predicted outflow. The fitted bulk model parameters provided relative values that correspond approximately to the impedance of arterial capillaries (1.0), cerebral aqueduct ( approximately 0), venous capillaries ( approximately 0), and arteries (0.01) and for the elastic capacitance of the ventricles (4.11), capillaries ( approximately 0), and veins (271). The elastic capacitance of the major cerebral arteries was large and could not be accurately determined.


CONCLUSIONS
We have confirmed the ability of the model to predict the venous waveforms in healthy persons. The absence of any statistically significant component of the venous waveform not described by the model implies that measurements of venous flow could be used to constrain further the model-fitting process.
Kim
J
J
Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Thacker
N A
NA
Bromiley
P A
PA
Jackson
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000502:physiology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole