Fig. 5.

Velocity distributions along the RV inflow axis from Functional Imaging simulations: a, at control; b, with chamber enlargement. At control, although the volumetric inflow rate is then much lower, inflow velocities along the axis in the basal region of the chamber are substantially higher late in the E-wave than their levels at the peak volumetric inflow rate, E_pk. This unexpected phenomenon is a corollary of the intense squeeze of the inflow core at control by the encircling strong ring-vortex, as hinted by the graphic insets accompanying the velocity distribution plots. Arrow length is proportional to linear velocity; arrow width, to volumetric inflow rate. Inset c depicts schematically the ring-vortex surrounding the inflowing core-stream and rotating poloidally, i.e., in the sense of the curved arrow. This poloidal rotation pattern is akin to that of the magnetic field in a magnet, which flows from the north pole to the south pole; hence, the name. (Reproduced, slightly modified, from Pasipoularides et al. [14] by permission of The American Physiological Society.)