LEA Physiology 2025

Kinetic energy

The energy of work or motion; in the vascular system, it is partly represented by the velocity of blood flow.

Potential energy

Stored or resting energy; in the vascular system, it is the intravascular pressure.

Inertia

The tendency of a body at rest to stay at rest or a body in motion to stay in motion.

Viscosity

The property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause fluid to flow.

Laminar flow

Flow of a liquid in which the liquid travels smoothly in parallel layers.

Bernoulli Principle

States that when a fluid flows without a change in velocity from one point to another, the total energy content remains constant, providing no frictional losses.

Hydraulic Filter

Converts the intermittent (pulsatile) output of the heart to a steady flow through the capillaries.

Critical stenosis

Degree of narrowing at which pressure and flow begin to be affected, typically occurring when cross-sectional area has been reduced by 75%.

Turbulent flow

Irregular motions of fluid elements where mixing between layers occurs and greater pressure is required to move fluid.

Reynolds Number

A dimensionless number used to predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations, indicating the likelihood of turbulence.