PHYSIC & CHEMISTRY Mass, Density, Viscosity Define Viscosity [] - Viscosity of blood and its variation with Hct,

priming solutions & temperature Internal resistance to flow, is related to the thickness or stickiness of a fluid; the greater the viscosity, the less easily the molecules slide past each other Concept of viscosity, or lack of slipperiness, was introduced by Newton Viscosity is constant for most fluids regardless of the nature of the flow [referred to as Newtonian fluids] and is only altered by temperature Some fluids, including blood, do not have a constant viscosity ie., the viscosity changes depending on the nature of the flow [non-Newtonian fluids] Blood viscosity is influenced by: 1) haemodilution [1 determinant] 2) temperature 3) flow velocity as

pressure =

flow vis cosity length diameter 4

an increase in viscosity will increase pressure; dilution of blood will decrease pressure

vis cosity =

shear stress dynespercm 2 = = shear rate msec

shear stress: force it takes for one lamina or layer of fluid to slip over another shear rate: measure of how fast one lamina will slip over another Water viscosity at room temperature:0.01 poise [1 centipoise (cp)] Plasma: approx 1.8 cp; Blood viscosity: 3-4 cp Blood is much more viscous than water because it contains formed elements & plasma proteins, hence it flows more slowly under the same conditions

Shear stress = Viscosity Shear rate

Viscosity of whole blood increases about 5% per degree decrease in temperature

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K Potger

PHYSIC & CHEMISTRY Mass, Density, Viscosity

Relationship between haematocrit & viscosity is proportional; a 50% decrease in haematocrit is approximately a 50% reduction in viscosity
[Reduced viscosity offsets the rheological effects of hypothermia; reduced viscosity results in decreased resistance to blood flow via capillaries, thus improving tissue perfusion to a degree that will compensate for the drop in Hct]

For a channel of a given size and shape, there is, for any given fluid (viscosity), an upper limit of flow to which the fluid motion proceeds as if in layers constituting laminal flow. Beyond such limits the flow is turbulent, and the lateral motions include eddies and swirling paths

K Potger

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