Journal of Theoretical Medicine
Volume 6 (2005), Issue 3, Pages 181-195
doi:10.1080/10273660500441324

Development of a Species-Specific Model of Cerebral Hemodynamics

Silvia Daun1 and Thorsten Tjardes2

1Department of Mathematics, University of Cologne, Weyertal 86-90, Cologne D-50931, Germany
2Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Witten-Herdecke, Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimerstr. 200, Cologne D-51109, Germany

Received 2 February 2005; Revised 5 July 2005; Accepted 27 October 2005

Copyright © 2005 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

In this paper, a mathematical model for the description of cerebral hemodynamics is developed. This model is able to simulate the regulation mechanisms working on the small cerebral arteries and arterioles, and thus to adapt dynamically the blood flow in brain. Special interest is laid on the release of catecholamines and their effect on heart frequency, cardiac output and blood pressure. Therefore, this model is able to describe situations of severe head injuries in a very realistic way.