Biorheology is the study of
flow properties (rheology) of
biological fluids. The term was first proposed by
Alfred L. Copley, a German-American medical scientist, at the first International Congress on
Rheology
Rheology (; ) is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in a fluid (liquid or gas) state but also as "soft solids" or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applie ...
in 1948.
Objectives and study domains
Biorheological research aims to determine and characterize the
dynamics of
physiological processes at all levels of biological organization, and the inter-relationships between
rheological properties of various biological systems. Biorheological studies can include both animal and plant systems, and can be in broad contexts like the rheology of
macromolecules
A macromolecule is a "molecule of high relative molecular mass, the structure of which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass." Polymers are physi ...
and macromolecular arrays, or in narrower contexts like the rheology in cells, tissues or organs.
Practical use
The biorheological approach applies in particular to molecular studies where changes of physical properties and conformation are investigated without reference to how the process actually takes place. Biorheological analyses include study of
pathological
Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...
processes through clinical research in the related fields of
hemodynamics
Hemodynamics or haemodynamics are the dynamics of blood flow. The circulatory system is controlled by homeostatic mechanisms of autoregulation, just as hydraulic circuits are controlled by control systems. The hemodynamic response continuously ...
and
hemorheology
Hemorheology, also spelled haemorheology (''haemo'' from Greek ‘αἷμα, ''haima'' 'blood'; and ''rheology'', from Greek ῥέω ''rhéō'', ' flow' and -λoγία, ''-logia'' 'study of'), or blood rheology, is the study of flow properties o ...
, and may have clinical implications in aiding the treatment of specific diseases.
See also
*
Alfred L. Copley, a German-American medical scientist who first proposed the term "biorheology".
*
Hemorheology
Hemorheology, also spelled haemorheology (''haemo'' from Greek ‘αἷμα, ''haima'' 'blood'; and ''rheology'', from Greek ῥέω ''rhéō'', ' flow' and -λoγία, ''-logia'' 'study of'), or blood rheology, is the study of flow properties o ...
, the study of flow properties of blood and its elements.
*
Biorheology (journal), a scientific journal in the field of biorheology
External links
International Society of BiorheologyBulgarian Society of Biorheology
* {{cite journal , last1=Copley , first1=Alfred L. , title=Biorheology, Western medicine and acupuncture , journal=Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research , date=1 January 1985 , volume=10 , issue=4 , pages=279–296 , doi=10.3727/036012985816714360 , pmid=2871699
Fluid dynamics