Physiological basis for carotid bruit
Laminar flow
- Fluid flows in parallel layers
- Each layer remains in constant distance form the vessel wall
- Fluid layer close to the wall has a lowest velocity
- Fluid layer at the center of a vessel has highest velocity
- Laminar flow is silent
- When blood flows in long, smooth straight vessels it flow as laminar flow
Turbulent flow
- Opposite of laminar flow
- Fluid does not flow in parallel layer
- It is noisy
- Laminar flow change into turbulent flow if the velocity of fluid increased or viscosity of fluid decreases
Carotid bruit
- Is an abnormal sound heard over the carotid artery during systole
- Deposition of atheromatous plaque in carotid artery result
narrowing of the carotid artery
- Narrowing of vessels causes increased velocity of fluid
through that region ( V = Q/A)
- Increased velocity of fluid change laminar flow into the
turbulent flow
- This turbulent flow produces carotid bruit
Labels: CVS, CVS SEQs, Physiology SEQ