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Inversion of the Fahraeus–Lindqvist Phenomenon in Blood Flow through Capillaries of Diminishing Radius

Nature volume 215, pages 1099–1100 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

THE flow of blood in the microcirculation is of great physiological and clinical importance but, because of its complexity, the mechanism is not fully understood. Fahraeus and Lindqvist1 first observed an apparent decrease of blood viscosity when it flowed through capillaries of decreasing diameters. Their work was later confirmed2–6 and the reality of the Fahraeus–Lindqvist phenomenon was accepted. Its explanation, often attempted2,7–9, relied chiefly on the concepts of an axial concentration of red cells and/or on the effect of a plasmatic “lubricating” layer along the capillary walls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney

    LEOPOLD DINTENFASS

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  1. LEOPOLD DINTENFASS
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DINTENFASS, L. Inversion of the Fahraeus–Lindqvist Phenomenon in Blood Flow through Capillaries of Diminishing Radius. Nature 215, 1099–1100 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2151099a0

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