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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jul 11.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Dev Biol. 2011;55(4-5):399–405. doi: 10.1387/ijdb.103218ap

Fig. 3. Methods for simulation of structural diameter adaptation.

Fig. 3

Experimental data on network structure and microvascular rheology serve as the basis to calculate blood flow and oxygen transport in networks with a given angioarchitecture. Stimuli derived from hemodynamic and metabolic conditions are used to predict diameter adaptation for each vessel according to a set of general adaptation rules to be tested. The properties of the vascular network after simulated adaptation are then compared with experimental network data (segment flow velocity, hematocrit and diameter) to assess the adequacy of the adaptation rules used and to optimize adaptation parameters.