A distributed-parameter (one-dimensional) anatomically detailed model for the arterial
network of the arm is developed in order to carry out hemodynamics simulations. This work
focuses on the specific aspects related to the model set-up. In this regard, stringent
anatomical and physiological considerations have been pursued in order to construct the
arterial topology and to provide a systematic estimation of the involved parameters. The
model comprises 108 arterial segments, with 64 main arteries and 44 perforator arteries,
with lumen radii ranging from 0.24 cm – axillary artery- to 0.018 cm – perforator
arteries. The modeling of blood flow in deformable vessels is governed by a well-known set
of hyperbolic partial differential equations that accounts for mass and momentum
conservation and a constitutive equation for the arterial wall. The variational
formulation used to solve the problem and the related numerical approach are described.
The model rendered consistent pressure and flow rate outputs when compared with patient
records already published in the literature. In addition, an application to
dimensionally-heterogeneous modeling is presented in which the developed arterial network
is employed as an underlying model for a three-dimensional geometry of a branching point
to be embedded in order to perform local analyses.