A numerical analysis of microcirculatory blood flow and oxygen transport to the surrounding tissue*

We numerically investigated the behaviors of red blood cells (RBCs) and oxygen supply to surrounding tissue in a simplified microvascular network. The simulation was performed by a computational model, where the fluid mechanics for plasma and cytoplasm flow are coupled with the solid mechanics for cell membrane deformation, and with the oxygen transportation formulated by mixed equations. Our numerical results demonstrated that the distribution of RBCs was almost homogenized as the time passes especially at high hematocrit, resulting in the uniformed oxygen supply to the surrounding tissues. This result suggests that complex microvascular networks such as the brain microcirculation regulates cellular flow and establish uniform oxygen supply.