Turbulence & Rheology, Dr. D. Penney



CELL/PLASMA INHOMOGENEITY IN THE CIRCULATION

  • Central hematocrit (Ht) (the one normally measured): larger arteries, veins, heart

  • Higher hematocrit: spleen, sludged veins

  • Lower hematocrit: small vessels, microcirculation, kidney?

  • Mean circulatory hematocrit ..... (Hm): = (total RBC vol) / (total RBC plasma vol) x 100


    Note: The ratio of Hm/Hc = 0.9 in normal humans, is depressed in failure, 0.87 in newborn, and 0.81 in pregnancy. As a consequence, more erythrocytes are lost in hemorrhage than the magnitude of a hemorrhage alone would suggest.




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