Baroreceptor Modeling: An Interactive Cardiovascular Simulation

Source: Model design by Dr. Jeff Kiel, Health Science Center, University of Texas, San Antonio. Used by permission. Narrative and simulation design by Jimmie W. Dixon, Jr.,with support from Robert R. Gotwals, Jr.

BACKGROUND

GOAL

The goal of this simulation is to simulate the ventricular pressure-volume relationships for the left and right heart. Specifically, the influence of baroreceptors and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) on blood pressure in the arterial system. By changing several key variables (particularly the chronotropic and inotropic influence of the autonomic nervous system), this simulation can demonstrate changes in arterial system pressure over a simulated period of time.

The simulation uses the conceptual framework of computational science -- application, algorithm, and architecture. The application refers to the scientific problem of interest and the components of that problem that we wish to study and/or include. The algorithm refers to the numerical/mathematical representation of that problem, including any numerical method or recipe used to solve the algorithm. Finally, the architecture refers to the computing platform and software tool(s) used to compute a solution set for the algorithm(s) developed.