On connecting large vessels to small. The meaning of Murray's law

J Gen Physiol. 1981 Oct;78(4):431-53. doi: 10.1085/jgp.78.4.431.

Abstract

A large part of the branching vasculature of the mammalian circulatory and respiratory systems obeys Murray's law, which states that the cube of the radius of a parent vessel equals the sum of the cubes of the radii of the daughters. Where this law is obeyed, a functional relationship exists between vessel radius and volumetric flow, average linear velocity of flow, velocity profile, vessel-wall shear stress, Reynolds number, and pressure gradient in individual vessels. In homogeneous, full-flow sets of vessels, a relation is also established between vessel radius and the conductance, resistance, and cross-sectional area of a full-flow set.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arteries / physiology
  • Blood Viscosity
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Dogs
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Biological
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena*