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A digital computer model of the human circulatory system

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Abstract

A digital, many-compartment model of the human circulatory system, which simulates pulsatile blood flow and gas transport and exchange, has been developed. The model is specifically designed to study short-term whole-body acceleration gz encountered in modern aerial combat manoeuvres, and incorporates a realistic representation of the nonlinear elastic characteristics of circulatory elements and the related pressure-dependent flow resistance characteristic of these elements. The model has been shown to properly simulate human data for passive breathing in a supine subject. The computed carbon dioxide and oxygen partial pressures vary realistically around measured average partial pressures for human subjects. The computed time variation of pressures, circulatory chamber volumes and flow rates match corresponding human data. Under sinusoidal gz variations, the model predicts realistic variations of volumes, flows and pressures.

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Hardy, H.H., Collins, R.E. & Calvert, R.E. A digital computer model of the human circulatory system. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 20, 550–564 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02443402

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