Heterogeneity of coronary arterial branching geometry

Arterial branching geometry is consistent with an optimal trade-off between the work needed to build and maintain the arterial tree and the work needed to operate the tree as a transport system. It is also consistent with the mechanism that acutely adjusts the lumen diameter by way of maintaining a constant shear stress by dilating the arteries via the nitric oxide mechanism. The use of microcomputerized tomography imaging to provide 3D images of the intact vascular tree within the intact organ overcomes or minimizes the heterogeneity of arterial branching theory. The variability of the arterial branching geometry is examined whether it is constant over the length of an artery or whether this progressively amplifies along the length of the artery.