The Arterial System

This book summarizes the papers presented at the symposium "Dynamics and Regulation of the Arterial System" held at Erlangen on 28-30 October 1977 in honor of Professor Erik Wetterer. The aim of the symposium was an inten­ sive exchange of ideas within a mUltidisciplinary group of scientists who are specialists in their fields of research. It is obvious that a two-day symposium covering such a wide range of topics could only highlight certain aspects of the latest research on the cardiovascular system. The book is divided into three sections. The first part deals with arterial hemo­ dynamics. Emphasized are the mechanical properties of the arterial wall, in particular the smooth muscle, fundamental parameters for the description of pulse wave propagation, such as attenuation, phase velocity, and reflection of pulse waves. Furthermore, new methods for recording arterial diameters and the latest results in determining pulsatile pressure and pulsatile diameter of arteries in vivo as well as from calculations based on models of the arterial system are presented. The second part deals with applications of the control theory and the principles of optimality of the cardiovascular system in toto and of single regions of this system. Contributions to research in the field of regulation of blood volume and of regional hemodynamics are also presented. The third part covers problems of interaction of the heart and the arterial system, including fluid mechanics of the aortic valves and the coronary blood flow under normal and pathologic conditions.