An integrated mathematical model of the human cardiopulmonary system: model development

Abstract

Several cardiovascular and pulmonary models have been proposed in the last few decades. However, very few have addressed the interactions between these two systems. Our group has developed an integrated cardiopulmonary model (CP Model) that mathematically describes the interactions between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, along with their main short-term control mechanisms. The model has been compared with human and animal data taken from published literature. Due to the volume of the work, the paper is divided in two parts. The present paper is on model development and normophysiology, whereas the second is on the model's validation on hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions. The CP Model incorporates cardiovascular circulation, respiratory mechanics, tissue and alveolar gas exchange, as well as short-term neural control mechanisms acting on both the cardiovascular and the respiratory functions. The model is able to simulate physiological variables typically observed in adult humans under normal and pathological conditions and to explain the underlying mechanisms and dynamics.

An integrated mathematical model of the human cardiopulmonary system: model validation under hypercapnia and hypoxia

“…To overcome some of the above limitations, we have developed a novel cardiopulmonary model (CP Model) that incorporates cardiovascular circulation, respiratory mechanics, tissue and alveolar gas exchange, as well as short-term cardiopulmonary regulation (2). A complete description of the model, including equations and parameter values, and results under normal resting conditions have been provided in the companion paper (2).…”

“…To overcome some of the above limitations, we have developed a novel cardiopulmonary model (CP Model) that incorporates cardiovascular circulation, respiratory mechanics, tissue and alveolar gas exchange, as well as short-term cardiopulmonary regulation (2). A complete description of the model, including equations and parameter values, and results under normal resting conditions have been provided in the companion paper (2). In Albanese et al (2), model behavior has been partially tested by checking its internal consistency and showing that simulated relevant hemodynamic and respiratory variables lie within normal ranges of an average healthy population under normal resting condition (see Ref.…”

“…A complete description of the model, including equations and parameter values, and results under normal resting conditions have been provided in the companion paper (2). In Albanese et al (2), model behavior has been partially tested by checking its internal consistency and showing that simulated relevant hemodynamic and respiratory variables lie within normal ranges of an average healthy population under normal resting condition (see Ref. 2, RESULTS section).…”

“…In Albanese et al (2), model behavior has been partially tested by checking its internal consistency and showing that simulated relevant hemodynamic and respiratory variables lie within normal ranges of an average healthy population under normal resting condition (see Ref. 2, RESULTS section). In this normal resting condition, all of the controlled variables stay within narrow physiological ranges and the short-term control mechanisms are essentially silent.…”

Sensitivity Analysis of a Cardiorespiratory Model for the Study of Sleep Apnea

“…The gas exchange is composed of three components: i) lung gas exchange and ii) metabolism gas exchange and iii) gas transport. 2.1.3.a Lung gas exchange: The description of CO 2 and O 2 exchanges between the dead space compartment, the alveoli compartment and the pulmonary capillaries was adapted from [9]. Fractions and partial pressures of each gas are computed for each compartment, depending on the air flow to the lungs, the percentage of O 2 and CO 2 in the inspired air and the blood flow in the pulmonary capillaries.…”