Biomedical Engineering

BIOPHYSICS

Exercises II Cardiovascular Mechanics

Instructor: Graciela Salum

1. Complete the Figure 1 with the vessels names and the source (from the) or destiny (to the) of the blood
in the vascular circulation.

Figure 1. Internal view of the heart anatomy.

2. Flow through a tube is proportional to the

(A) Square of the radius
(B) Square root of the length
(C) Fourth power of the radius
(D) Square of the length
(E) Square root of the radius

3. Blood flow becomes turbulent when

(A) Flow velocity exceeds a certain value
(B) Blood viscosity exceeds a certain value
(C) Blood vessel diameter exceeds a certain value
(D) Reynolds number exceeds a certain value

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 Biomedical Engineering
BIOPHYSICS

4. The volume of an aorta is increased by 30 mL with an associated pressure increase from 80 to 120 mm Hg.
The compliance of the aorta is
(A) 1.33 mm Hg/mL
(B) 4.0 mm Hg/mL
(C) 0.75 mm Hg/mL
(D) 1.33 mL/mm Hg
(E) 0.75 mL/mm Hg

5. In the tube in the diagram to the right, the inlet pressure is 75 mm Hg and the outlet pressure at A and B
is 25 mm Hg. The resistance to flow is
(A) 2 PRU
(B) 0.5 PRU
(C) 2 (mL/min)/mm Hg
(D) 0.75 mm Hg/(mL/min)
(E) 0.5 (mL/min)/mm Hg
Note: 1 mmHg/ml/sec = 1 PRU

6. Using the data below, which is correct?

Volume in ventricle at end of diastole: 130 mL; Volume in ventricle at end of systole: 60 mL
Heart rate: 70 beats/min; Mean arterial blood pressure: 90 mm Hg
(A) Cardiac output is 9,100 mL/min
(B) Cardiac output is 4,200 mL/min
(C) Stroke work is 11,700 mL/mm Hg
(D) Stroke work is 6,300 mL/mm Hg
(E) Stroke work is 4,900 mL/min

7. Mean arterial pressure changes if

(A) Heart rate increases, with no changes in cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance
(B) Stroke volume changes, with no changes in heart rate or systemic vascular resistance
(C) Arterial compliance changes, with no changes in cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance
(D) Heart rate doubles and systemic vascular resistance is halved, with no change in stroke volume
(E) Arterial compliance doubles and systemic vascular resistance is halved, with no change in heart rate

8. In the systemic circulation, vascular resistance

(A) Changes occur mainly in the aorta and large arteries
(B) Is altered more by changes in blood viscosity than radius
(C) Is altered more by changes in vessel radius than length
(D) Is altered more by changes in vessel length than radius

9. If a person has an arterial blood pressure of 125/75 mm Hg,

(A) The pulse pressure is 40 mm Hg
(B) The mean arterial pressure is 92 mm Hg
(C) Diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg
(D) Systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg
(E) The mean arterial pressure is 100 mm Hg

10. Calculate the resistance to blood flow within the descending aorta. Assume that the pressure
difference between the distal portion of the aortic arch and the iliac arteries is 20 mmHg. Assume
that the flow rate through both vessels is 4.5 L/min.
11. Calculate the resistance to blood flow within the inferior vena cava. The pressure difference within
the inferior vena cava is 3 mmHg. Assume that the flow rate through both vessels is 4.5 L/min.
12. Calculate the difference in blood flow rate for a 5-cm section of a blood vessel with a pressure
difference of 25 mmHg that experiences an increase in blood flow diameter from 100 m to 200
m. Also calculate the blood flow rate for a constriction that reduces the diameter to 50 m. For
each of these three cases, what is the vascular resistance?