Influence of Geometric Parameters on The Hemodynamic Characteristics of The Vertebral Artery

Yanlu Chen; Yuzhou Cheng; Kun Luo; Jianren Fan

doi:10.1115/1.4067578

Influence of Geometric Parameters on The Hemodynamic Characteristics of The Vertebral Artery

J Biomech Eng. 2025 Jan 10:1-11. doi: 10.1115/1.4067578. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yanlu Chen¹, Yuzhou Cheng², Kun Luo³, Jianren Fan³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Yuquan Campus, 38 Zheda Road , Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China.
² Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study of Zhejiang University, Zhangjiang Guochuang Center phase, No.799, Dangui Road, Shanghai 200120, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Yuquan Campus, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study of Zhejiang University, Zhangjiang Guochuang Center phase, No.799, Dangui Road, Shanghai 200120, China.

PMID: 39790091
DOI: 10.1115/1.4067578

Abstract

The carotid and vertebral arteries are principal conduits for cerebral blood supply and are common sites for atherosclerotic plaque formation. To date, there has been extensive clinical and hemodynamic reporting on carotid arteries; however, studies focusing on the hemodynamic characteristics of the vertebral artery (VA) are notably scarce. This article presents a systematic analysis of the impact of VA diameter and the angle of divergence from the subclavian artery (SA) on hemodynamic properties, facilitated by the construction of an idealized VA geometric model. Research indicates that the increase in the diameter of the VA is associated with a corresponding increase in the complexity of the vortex structures at the bifurcation with the SA. When the VA diameter is constant, a 30° VA-SA angle yields better hemodynamic capacity than 45° and 60° angles, and the patterns of blood flow and helicity values are consistent across different angles. Elevated Oscillatory shear index (OSI) zones are mainly at the origin of the VA, with an elliptical low OSI region within. As the diameter increases, the high OSI region spreads downstream. Increasing the bifurcation angle decreases OSI values in and below the elliptical low OSI region. These findings are valuable for studying the physiological and pathological mechanisms of VA atherosclerosis.