Modelling of the carotid artery

Abstract

This study presents a modelling for the carotid artery that allows to analyze the theoretical behavior of pressure, flow and arterial volume in it, from the variation of both physical and physiological characteristics, such as: the thickness and length of the vessel blood, the viscosity and density of blood; determinants in the study of the normal functionality of the artery. The model of the arterial vessel –an adaptation of the Windkessel model of three elements, reported by Westerhof and Stergiopulos–, consists of an electrical circuit composed of passive RLC elements. The arterial segment was analyzed by mathematical and computational tools, relating Poiseuille's laws and electric laws. The pressure, flow and volume curves were obtained when changes occurred in the measurable characteristics of the carotid artery, in order to facilitate the medical interpretation of possible pathologies related to these changes.