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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

The human cardiovascular system

  

Blood density (37 °C)

1.058E3 kg.m-3

Number of red cells per mm3 of blood

5E6

Number of white cells per mm3 of blood

8E3

Flow rate at heart

Resting

Intense activity

 

5 L/min

25 L/min

Time for a tracer to circulate

18 - 24 s

Time for complete circulation

54 s

Blood volume (70 kg person)

5.2 L

Gauge pressure, right ventricle, peak

3 kPa (25 mmHg)

Gauge pressure, left ventricle, peak

16 kPa (120 mmHg)

Mean gauge pressure, large veins

1.07 kPa (8 mmHg)

Mean gauge pressure, large arteries

12.8 kPa (96 mmHg)

Mean gauge pressure, at the heart

13.3 kPa (100 mmHg)

Pressure drop per cm of aorta

4.3 Pa (0.032 mmHg)

Power required by heart at rest

~10 W

 

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