MORPHOMETRY OF PIG CORONARY ARTERIAL TREES

To establish a mathematical model of the treelike arteries for the pur pose of hemodynamic analysis, a complete set of morphometric data of p ig coronary arteries is presented. For the purpose of mathematical mod eling, three innovations in morphometry are introduced: 1) a rule for assigning the order numbers of the vessels on the basis of diameter ra nges, 2) a connectivity matrix to describe asymmetric branching, and 3 ) a measurement of the fraction of vessel segments connected in series . The morphometric measurements were made with the silicone elastomer- casting method. Data on smaller vessels were obtained from histologica l specimens by optical sectioning. Data on larger vessels were obtaine d from vascular casts. The order number, diameter, length, connectivit y matrix, and fractions of the vessels of a given order connected in s eries were measured for all orders of vessels of the right coronary ar tery and the left anterior descending and left circumflex branches. Th e data can be used to analyze the longitudinal distribution of blood p ressure and volume and spatial distribution of perfusion in myocardium .