Importance of Turbulence in Blood Flow

• Has generally been accepted that turbulence in blood flow has a deleterious effect on the cardiovascular system.

• Increases head losses.

• Implicated in Atherogenesis (initiation of Arteriosclerosis)

  • Atherosclerotic plaques tend to localize in areas where the wall shear stress is low and/or time varying.

• Turbulence produces fluctuating wall pressure which is transmitted through the tissue and can be detected externally

  • Korotkoff sounds (blood pressure measurement)
  • Phonoangiography (diagnosis of arterial stenoses)

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