Figure 1
From: Vortex ring behavior provides the epigenetic blueprint for the human heart
Possible anatomical arrangements for intracardiac vortex ring generation.
(a) Vortex rings are formed by pulsatile flow through an aperture, such as flow from the left atrium (LA) to the LV through the mitral orifice. A large left ventricle can accommodate the full size of the vortex ring it generates, but the vortex cannot rinse the distant ventricular wall and prevent mural thrombus formation. Furthermore, large ventricles are poor suction pumps and have high wall tension which causes energy waste. (b) If the chamber is too small it cannot accommodate full vortex ring formation and is therefore incompatible with efficient filling. (c) An optimized left ventricle enables energy-efficient filling by matching endocardial expansion to vortex ring expansion and formation, thereby facilitating rinsing at low pressure and maintenance of low wall tension.
