Modelling the endothelial glycocalyx layer in the microcirculation

Abstract eng:
The Endothelial Glycocalyx Layer (EGL) is a porous layer that lines the inside of blood vessels. It is of interest as it is believed to fulfil a number of roles important for vessel health including regulating vessel permeability and as a transducer of mechanical stress from flowing blood. In order to simulate a physiologically realistic microvessel, we derive an asymptotic treatment of the equations governing fluid flow and solid deformation in the EGL based on the low permeability limit. We perform simulations on a physiologically realistic microvessel that has been reconstructed from confocal microscopy data. By comparing results from the full governing equations against the asymptotic treatment, we show that a physiological microvessel is within the asymptotic regime. We also show that redistribution of the EGL away from cell peaks can reduce the shear stress experienced by the endotheliLun. Finally, we consider a more sophisticated EGL model based on homogenisation.

• Export as: BibTeX | MARC | MARCXML | DC | EndNote | NLM | RefWorks
• Add to your basket