PBS Fluid Dynamics

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and principles related to fluid dynamics and clinical applications in medical settings.

Pressure

The amount of force applied to a perpendicular area.

Pascal's Principle

A change in pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its container.

Archimedes' Principle

An object submerged in a fluid experiences a buoyant force proportional to the mass of the fluid it displaces.

Poiseuille's Law

Describes the pressure drop during laminar flow, affecting the flow rate based on the radius of the vessel.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid due to its weight, depending on the column height and density.

Laminar Flow

Fluid movement characterized by smooth, parallel layers where the streamlines are drawn.

Turbulent Flow

Irregular fluid movement where streamlines are not parallel and are difficult to predict.

Blood Pressure Cuff

A device used to measure blood pressure, which must be appropriately sized for accuracy.

Systolic BP

The first Korotkoff sound indicating the pressure in the arteries during heartbeats.

Diastolic BP

The last Korotkoff sound indicating the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

Pressure Units

Common units for measuring pressure include Pascal (Pa), atmosphere (atm), and mmHg.

Hydrostatic Effect

The difference in blood pressure readings due to the height of the measuring site relative to the heart.