HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pontiga, F. Articles by Gaytán, S. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pontiga, F. Articles by Gaytán, S. P.

TEACHING IN THE LABORATORY

An experimental approach to the fundamental principles of hemodynamics

¹ Department of Applied Physics, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
² Department of Physiology and Zoology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: F. Pontiga, Dept. de Física Aplicada II, Escuela Universitaria de Arquitectura Técnica, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012 Sevilla, Spain (E-mail: pontiga{at}us.es)

An experimental model has been developed to give students hands-on experience with the fundamental laws of hemodynamics. The proposed experimental setup is of simple construction but permits the precise measurements of physical variables involved in the experience. The model consists in a series of experiments where different basic phenomena are quantitatively investigated, such as the pressure drop in a long straight vessel and in an obstructed vessel, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, the association of vessels in vascular networks, or the generation of a critical stenosis. Through these experiments, students acquire a direct appreciation of the importance of the parameters involved in the relationship between pressure and flow rate, thus facilitating the comprehension of more complex problems in hemodynamics.

Key words: educational model; Poiseuille’s law; Bernoulli’s equation

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Agis-Torres and E. Lopez-Oliva Criticizing Models as a Strategy to Help Students Understand Hemodynamics and Develop Their Critical Abilities Advan Physiol Educ, March 1, 2007; 31(1): 119 - 120. [Full Text] [PDF]