Question

Consider a blood vessel of constant diameter and fixed length. Which equation expresses the relation between pressure gradient (ΔP), blood flow (F), and resistance (R)? Remember that the Greek letter Δ (delta) means the difference in pressure between one end of the vessel and the other end

A) F = R / ΔP

B) ΔP = F / R

C) R = ΔP * F

D) F = R4

E) ΔP = F * R

Answer 1

E) ΔP = F * R

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's look at Ohm's law:

ΔV = I * R

where I is the electric current, ΔV is the potential difference and R is the resistance.

We can derive the relationship between pressure gradient (ΔP), blood flow (F), and resistance (R) by analogy, getting:

ΔP = F * R

or

F = ΔP/R

This means that the flow is proportional to the pressure difference and inversely proportional to the resistance.