MAGNETO HYDRODYNAMIC EFFECTS ON AN ATHEROSCLEROTIC ARTERY—A THEORETICAL STUDY - Theoretical and Computational Research in the 21st Century - page 60

2.1 INTRODUCTION
Among all the fatal diseases of the human body, circulatory disorders are
still a major cause of death. The understanding of anatomy and physiol-
ogy of an organic system depends much on the knowledge of blood flow
through arteries. A systematic study on the rheological and hemodynamic
properties of blood and blood flow could play a significant role in the ba-
sic understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of many cardiovascular, cere-
brovascular, and arterial diseases. It is well known that stenosis (narrow-
ing in the local lumen in the artery) is responsible for many cardiovascular
diseases. When the degree of narrowing becomes significant enough to
impede the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the arteries, heart dis-
eases develop. Although the exact mechanism of the formation of stenosis
in a conclusive manner remains somewhat unclear from the standpoint of
physiology and pathology, the abnormal deposition of various substances
such as cholesterol, fat on the endothelium of the arterial wall, and prolif-
eration of connective tissues accelerates the growth of the disease. Plaques
are thereby formed and lead to serious circulatory disorders. Plaque forms
when cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in the inner lining of
the artery. This process is called carotid circulatory disorders . It greatly
disturbs the normal blood flow leading to malfunction of the hemodynam-
ic system (the flow of blood) and cardiovascular system. Carotid artery
stenosis is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke (most common form of
stroke usually caused by blood-clot plugging an artery).
The cause and development of many arterial diseases are related to the
fl ow characteristics of blood and the mechanical behavior of the blood
vessel walls. The abnormal and unnatural growth in the arterial wall thick-
ness at various locations of the cardiovascular system is medically termed
“Atherosclerosis.” Its presence in one or more locations restricts the fl ow
of blood through the lumen of the coronary arteries into the heart leading
to cardiac ischemia. Once the constriction develops, it brings about signifi -
cant alterations in the blood fl ow, pressure distribution, wall shear stress,
and impedance (fl ow resistance). The fact that the hemodynamic factors
play a commendable role in the genesis and growth of the disease has at-
tracted many researchers to explore modern approach and sophisticated
mathematical models for investigation on fl ow through stenotic arteries.
To illuminate the effects of stenoses present in the arterial lumen, intensive
experimental and numerical researches have been carried out worldwide