No. I shows the influence of high arterial tension, and No. II of low
tension. The first corresponds to No. II in Fig. 5, the second to Nos.
I and III. Nos. IV and V of Fig. 5 show the effect of great friction
and small elasticity. The constructions differ in the form of the
elastic movement; the position of equilibrium is reached with different
velocity in both cases. The resulting movements differ slightly in the
form of the catacrotic phase. Both forms may be seen in No. III of Fig.
6. This sphygmogram was taken from an artery with low tension, and this
form of the sphygmographic curve is well known as characteristic of the
"soft" pulse. If the artery has lost to a large extent the qualities
of an elastic body, and if the outflow is very rapid, the pulse curve
shows nothing but the slight elevation of the travelling wave; No. IV
in Fig. 6 shows a curve of this character.
This theory explains many surprising facts which resisted every attempt
at explanation. The anacrotic part shows a steep ascent, because it
is due to the sudden arrival of the blood wave. It seems that an
interruption in the descent may be seen only in abnormal cases. The
sphygmograms of twelve normal individuals were observed regularly by me
during more than a year without once discovering an anacrotic elevation.
The hemautographic curve of Landois is produced in this way. The form
of this curve depends on the velocity of the escaping jet of blood. The
velocity of the blood flow depends on the resistance of the arterial
system in the sense that the velocity decreases when the resistance
increases. When the arterial wall is in the negative phase of vibration
the lumen of the artery is smaller, and, therefore, the velocity
smaller. This is confirmed by the actual tracings of the velocity of
the circulation by Marey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account