Medical Biophysics

Medical Biophysics

Where is the pulse wave generated

During each heartbeat, the muscles of the heart contract causing a wave of pressure which forces blood through the arteries. This wave of pressure is known as a pulse. There is one pulsation for each heartbeat. The pulse can be felt at various points on the body where the arteries are just under the skin, such as the temples, neck, crook of the elbow, wrist, groin, back of the knee, and the inside back of the ankle. The normal pulse rate varies with age. Below is a chart listing the range of heart rates and average heart rate for various ages.

What types of vessels propagate (i.e. carry) pulse waves, and what special anatomical/physical properties must they possess

In order to clarify the genesis of the human pressure and flow pulse contours of the distal leg arteries, in particular the posterior tibial artery, pulse recordings were performed with transcutaneous techniques under normal conditions and in the state of strong vasodilatation (reactive hyperaemia) in the distal parts of the lower legs.

From the experimental results it is concluded that the contour of the incident pressure wave arriving in the leg arteries is very similar to the pressure pulse contour of the abdominal aorta, while the resulting contour in the leg arteries is determined by this incident wave and superimposed reflected waves. The latter arise from positive reflection in the periphery of the lower legs. They travel in retrograde direction, are reflected negatively in proximal regions, particularly in the abdomimal aorta, and appear again, with opposite sign, in the leg arteries.

In addition, retrograde waves reflected positively at the aortic valve and then traveling in antegrade direction also influence the pulse contours. By considering this wave travel, the genesis of the characteristic contours of the pressure and ...