Aurelien F. Stalder1, Alex Frydrychowicz1, Max F. Russe1, Jan G. Korvink2, Jrgen Hennig1, Michael Markl1
1Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology - Medical Physics, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany; 2Dept. of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Germany
Turbulence and velocity fluctuations of the blood flow are believed to play a role in hemolysis, platelet activation and thrombus formation. Based on flow-sensitive MRI, Reynolds, Womersley & Strouhal numbers have been measured in-vivo at 8 planes along the thoracic aorta in 30 healthy volunteers. The measurements were integrated in a turbulence model for pulsatile flow in order to assess the presence of turbulence in the healthy aorta. While turbulence-free regimes were observed in the aortic arch, onsets of turbulence were observed at peak systole in the ascending and descending aorta.