The influence of non-Newtonian blood pow in large arteries is studied numer
ically. The model studies are carried out to demonstrate the shear thinning
effect at increased sheer rates resulting from the reversible destruction
of red blood cell aggregates and to show basic viscoelastic effects. The ma
thematical models considered use the conservation of momentum and of mass a
nd constitutive relations describing the shear thinning behavior and relati
ons of Jeffreys type (Oldroyd-B model). The numerical approach applies the
finite element method. The non-Newtonian inelastic effects are demonstrated
in, a curved tube model and in an anatomically and physiologically realist
ic artery bifurcation model. The viscoelastic flow study is carried out usi
ng an axisymmetric tube with a local constriction modeling a stenosed blood
vessel. The assumption of physiologically realistic shear thinning behavio
r shows a minor quantitative influence on local flow patterns compared with
Newtonian reference flow.