The Aortic Flow Pulse as Related to Differential Pressure

Abstract

The flow pulsations in the dog's descending aorta were recorded with a noncannulating square wave electromagnetic flowmeter and found to be at considerable variance with previously published curves. The validity of the square-wave electromagnetic flows was established by tests of the instrument's adequacy and by comparison with the simultaneously recorded differential pressures. In the genesis of the aortic flow pulse, inertia is dominant and resistance secondary, so that flow is related to the differential pressure pulse mainly through acceleration.