1. Circulatory hemodynamics and biomechanics

1.1 Blood circulation

The primary function of blood circulation is to distribute oxygen and nutrients to the organs, and to eliminate waste products. It also performs a number of important secondary functions, such as transporting informative chemical molecules (mediators), as well as cells specialized in cell-to-cell communication, body defense and thermoregulation. Circulation takes place in three types of blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to the organs (figure 1 ). Veins carry blood from the organs to the heart. Only the capillaries are in close contact with the cells, enabling exchanges between the blood and the interstitial...