A plausible explanation for heart rates in mammals.
Abstract: We consider a simple model to give a plausible mechanical explanation of what are the actual resting heart rates of mammals optimized for. We study what is the optimal frequency for a viscoelastic fluid circulating in a pulsatile way through a network of tubes and conclude that the heart rate is not optimized to transport blood through the whole net. Rather, actual resting heart rates of mammals happen at frequencies that optimize flow in vessels of radii that correspond to large arteries, which bring oxygenated blood rapidly far away from the heart, towards head and limbs. Our results for the optimal frequencies, obtained using observed radii of femoral arteries in mammals, agree best with the heart rates observed. We find a theoretical allometric relation between optimal flow frequency and radius: nu approximately R(-1). This one, agrees with the exponent obtained when plotting observed heart rates versus radii of both, femoral arteries and carotids in mammals of different sizes, from mice to horses.
Publication Date: 2010-07-29 PubMed ID: 20665970DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.06.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research suggests that the resting heart rates of mammals are optimized for transporting oxygen-rich blood quickly to major body parts like the head and limbs through large arteries, rather than ensuring overall blood circulation. This conclusion is based on a model that studies the optimal frequency of pulsating fluid movement in a network of tubes, simulating blood circulation in the body.
Heartbeat Optimization
The researchers developed a simple model to understand what the resting heart rates of mammals are optimized for. The model studied the optimal frequency for a viscoelastic fluid (simulating blood) pulsing through a network of tubes (representing the blood vessels).
- Importantly, their study concluded that the heart rate is not primarily optimized to ensure overall blood flow throughout the body.
- On the contrary, the resting heart rates of mammals appear to be optimized to ensure optimal blood flow within larger arteries that transport oxygenated blood quickly to crucial body parts like the head and legs.
Results Correlation
The team further compared their results with the observed heart rates and sizes of mammals, ranging from mice to horses.
- The optimal frequencies derived from their model aligned best with the observed heart rates from the radii of the femoral arteries in mammals, further reinforcing their conclusion.
- The researchers also found a theoretical correlation between the optimal flow frequency and radius, commonly referred to as an allometric relation, denoted as nu approximately R(-1).
- This theoretical relation matched the observed heart rates versus the radii of both, femoral arteries and carotids in mammals of varying sizes depicted within the provided data-set.
Research Significance
Identifying the optimization of heart rates provides a fascinating insight into the efficiency of mammalian physiology. These findings could potentially be significant in various fields such as designing and developing more efficient artificial heart devices, studying diseases related to abnormal heart rates, and in the broader understanding of cardiovascular biology.
Cite This Article
APA
Flores J, Corvera Poiré E, del Rio JA, López de Haro M.
(2010).
A plausible explanation for heart rates in mammals.
J Theor Biol, 265(4), 599-603.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.06.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Física y Química Teórica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México D.F. 04510, Mexico.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Circulation / physiology
- Carotid Arteries / physiology
- Coronary Vessels / physiology
- Dogs
- Femoral Artery / anatomy & histology
- Femoral Artery / physiology
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Humans
- Mammals / physiology
- Models, Cardiovascular
- Permeability
- Rest / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Torres Rojas AM, Lorente S, Hautefeuille M, Sanchez-Cedillo A. Hierarchical Modeling of the Liver Vascular System.. Front Physiol 2021;12:733165.
- Yáñez D, Travasso RDM, Corvera Poiré E. Resonances in the response of fluidic networks inherent to the cooperation between elasticity and bifurcations.. R Soc Open Sci 2019 Sep;6(9):190661.
- Moreira-Soares M, Coimbra R, Rebelo L, Carvalho J, D M Travasso R. Angiogenic Factors produced by Hypoxic Cells are a leading driver of Anastomoses in Sprouting Angiogenesis-a computational study.. Sci Rep 2018 Jun 7;8(1):8726.
- Torres Rojas AM, Meza Romero A, Pagonabarraga I, Travasso RD, Corvera Poiré E. Obstructions in Vascular Networks: Relation Between Network Morphology and Blood Supply.. PLoS One 2015;10(6):e0128111.
- Gandica Y, Schwarz T, Oliveira O, Travasso RD. Hypoxia in vascular networks: a complex system approach to unravel the diabetic paradox.. PLoS One 2014;9(11):e113165.
- Hernández-Lemus E. Biological physics in México: Review and new challenges.. J Biol Phys 2011 Mar;37(2):167-84.
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