title: Three-dimensional computational prediction of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the human brain.
abstract: A three-dimensional model of the human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces is presented. Patient-specific brain geometries were reconstructed from magnetic resonance images. The model was validated by comparing the predicted flow rates with Cine phase-contrast MRI measurements. The model predicts the complex CSF flow patterns and pressures in the ventricular system and subarachnoid space of a normal subject. The predicted maximum rostral to caudal CSF flow in the pontine cistern precedes the maximum rostral to caudal flow in the ventricles by about 10% of the cardiac cycle. This prediction is in excellent agreement with the subject-specific flow data. The computational results quantify normal intracranial dynamics and provide a basis for analyzing diseased intracranial dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Product and Process Design, Department of Chemical and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60607-7052, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sweetman
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xenos
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zitella
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Linninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D019295:Computational Biology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000503:physiopathology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology