Fig. 1
Electrical analogue model of the cardiovascular system. The systemic arterial section consists of three RLC elements representing the aortic (RAT, LAT and CAT), thoracic (RTT, LTT and CTT) and abdominal (RABT, LABT and CABT) tract respectively. Ras is the variable systemic peripheral resistance. The systemic venous section consists of two variable resistances (Rvs1 and Rvs2) and a compliance (Cvs). The main (small) pulmonary section is reproduced by a RLC element: Rpam, Lpam and Cpam (Rpas, Lpas and Cpas). The arteriole (capillary) bed behaviour is reproduced by a single resistance Rpar (Rpc). The pulmonary venous section consists of a compliance (Cvp) and a resistance (Rvp). Pt is the mean intrathoracic pressure