Figure 3

Schematic representation of a stenosed, non bridged coronary artery: a) When flow is zero, the intravascular pressure p exerts two axial, opposite, equal forces (F_o and F_o) in the constriction and expansion cones, respectively. The vertical equidistant slashes indicate that the vessel wall does not pull (axially) at the surrounding myocardium. b) When blood flows through the stenosis, the proximal pressure p_p is greater than the distal pressure p_d, and the sum of the two forces pulling in downstream direction (F₁ and F₂, see Appendix) is greater than the sum of the two forces pulling in upstream direction (F₃ and F_tissues). If flow and proximal pressure do not reach their maximum simultaneously, the net force F = F₁ + F₂ - F₃ - F_tissues is not necessarily maximal when flow or proximal pressure are maximal. The oblique slashes show where the vessel wall will elongate axially and pull at the myocardium.