The capillary-centric model of cardiac coupling-as-thermodynamics

• Main Author: Taylor, Andrew James David
• Language: EN
• Published: North Dakota State University 2015
• Subjects: Biomedical engineering|Medicine|Physiology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1606114

<p> Models of ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) have historically described the heart as a function of its energetic interaction with the arterial system. However, these models either represent the dynamic, adaptive cardiovascular system (CVS) in isolation or sacrifice cardiac mechanics to use simplified, time-averaged values across the cardiac cycle. In this thesis a facsimile CVS is constructed that characterizes ventricular-arterial interactions with intact cardiac mechanics as a function of whole-body thermo-fluid homeostatic regulation. Simulation results indicate proportional-integral (PI) control of heart rate and arterial resistance is conditionally sufficient to maintain body temperature during square-wave exercise, but further elements may be required to mimic genuine physiological responses. These simulations of the primitive model lay the framework of capillary-centric VAC through the perspective of coupling-as-thermodynamics.</p>