Cardiovascular diseases have a major impact in Western countries.
Mathematical models and numerical simulations can aid the understanding
of physiological and pathological processes, complementing the
information provided to medical doctors by medical imaging and other
non-invasive means, and opening the possibility of a better diagnosis
and more in-depth surgical planning.This book offers a mathematically
sound and up-to-date foundation to the training of researchers, and
serves as a useful reference for the development of mathematical models
and numerical simulation codes. It is structured into different
chapters, written by recognized experts in the field, but it features a
common thread with consistency of notation and expressions and
systematic cross-referencing. Many fundamental issues are faced, such
as: the mathematical representation of vascular geometries extracted
from medical images, modelling blood rheology and the complex multilayer
structure of the vascular tissue, and its possible pathologies, the
mechanical and chemical interaction between blood and vascular walls;
the different scales coupling local and systemic dynamics. All these
topics introduce challenging mathematical and numerical problems,
demanding for advanced analysis and simulation techniques. This book is
addressed to graduate students and researchers in the field of
bioengineering, applied mathematics and medicine, wishing to engage
themselves in the fascinating task of modeling how the cardiovascular
system works.
